67 Days Until The Winter Olympics: Another Urgent Alarm! New Milan Cortina Speed Skating Ice Venue Flops

It should come as no surprise that things are a little different in Italy. It is safe to say the sense of urgency is not the same as in many other countries. Therefore, when the organizers respond to Milan Cortina Olympics construction criticism with “Non si preoccupi”  (“No problem/Don’t worry about it.”). Well, you should worry about it. 

The latest construction concern is for the ice at the new Speed Skating Stadium that will be used for the Olympics. This past weekend, the first major competition was held at the venue. 

It did not go well.  

Milan Cortina Olympics Speed Skating Venue is “like a lake” 

The sound of blades carving into ice at the new Speed Skating Stadium for the Milan Cortina Olympics has raised eyebrows and concerns. For the athletes testing the surface, the sound was not right. It sounded hollow, with cracks that echo through the temporary structure, giving skaters the unsettling feeling they are gliding over a frozen lake.

This unusual feedback comes from a crucial Junior World Cup test event, the first major competition held at the venue. For the Milan Cortina Olympic hopefuls and the organizers, this is more than just a trial run, it was a high-stakes dress rehearsal for the 2026 Winter Games. The athletes’ reactions paint a picture of a project still very much in progress, with the clock ticking loudly.

Kayo Vos, who won the men’s neo-seniors 1,000 meters, described the experience vividly. “They’re still trying to make perfect ice,” Vos told The Associated Press after winning the men’s neo-seniors 1,000 meters. “The track is like 20 centimeters above the concrete, so it sounds like you’re skating on natural ice because it sounds hollow.

 “The track is like 20 centimeters above the concrete, so it sounds like you’re skating on natural ice because it sounds hollow,” he shared. “And it cracks… in either corner, so it sounds funny and it gives the feeling that you’re skating on natural ice.” 

While Vos noted that conditions are improving daily, his words highlight the immense pressure on the ice-making team to perfect the surface in time for the world’s biggest stage.

A Race Against Time for Perfect Ice

The man tasked with transforming this temporary facility into a stage for Milan Cortina Olympic dream is Canadian ice master Mark Messer. He acknowledges the unique challenges, explaining that the sensation of skating on a lake is a perception created by the venue’s construction. “It sounds like there’s something underneath or not something underneath, maybe a hollow, so I think the perception is like skating on a lake where there’s a void underneath,” Messer said. “We don’t have a void, but we have insulation before the concrete. So you get the same sort of sound and the same perception.”

Messer’s team is in a “small window to learn things,” gathering vital information from skaters and coaches to fine-tune the ice. The initial approach was cautious, prioritizing safety over speed. 

Now, with feedback in hand, they can begin adjusting temperatures to create a faster, yet still secure, surface. This delicate balancing act is critical; the quality of the ice can be the difference between a world record and a devastating fall. The world is watching to see if this innovative, temporary venue can deliver the flawless conditions expected at the Milan Cortina Olympic Games.

The path to this point has been fraught with challenges. The decision to use a temporary structure at the Fiera Milano exhibition complex is a first for Olympic long-track speedskating and was only settled in April 2023 after significant controversy.  

Add the Ice Arena to the List of Concerns  

This is not the only venue concern for the Milan Cortina Olympics. Construction crews are scrambling to make sure the Ice Hockey Arena is complete in time. For this venue, it is not even available to test. The first test is set for January 9. Officials can only hope the first test does not receive the same “skating on a lake” reviews. 

The stakes are as high as they can get for ice hockey. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has monitored the progress closely and no one wants to think what could happen if the ice is deemed non-playable. But this is clear: The NHL will not risk the safety of their highly paid investments, also known as pro hockey athletes.  

It appears it is time to say, “let’s worry about it.”