Cortina's Olympic sliding track ready for athlete tests

The sliding track for the Milan-Cortina Olympics is almost ready. The main structure has been completed, and ice preparation is underway. Next week, 60 athletes will test the track, which has faced controversy during its construction. Fabio Saldini, the government commissioner overseeing the project, announced that the track was finished on March 16. Workers celebrated this milestone by laying an evergreen tree branch on the track, symbolizing the start of the bobsled teams' push-off. By Sunday, ice workers will finish their preparations. Starting Monday, bobsled, luge, and skeleton athletes will conduct test runs. Their goal is to get preliminary certification for the track, which is needed before the Olympics. Coaches and officials from various international sports organizations will also be present. Preliminary approval is important to avoid the need to move sliding events to Lake Placid, New York. Last week, high temperatures and rain posed challenges for ice preparation, but Saldini reported that 50% of the ice is now ready. Security has been heightened around the track due to a reported act of sabotage last month. In addition to sliding events, Cortina will also host women’s Alpine skiing and curling during the Winter Games. Mobile homes for 1,400 athletes are being set up this month to serve as an Athletes' Village during both the Olympics and Paralympics.