The Board of Directors of the Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026 is optimistically awaiting SIMIC's decision to contract the works for the sliding centre in Cortina d'Ampezzo

In the event of the signing of the contract between SIMICO and the contractor, the original masterplan of the Games is confirmed.

The Board of Directors of the Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026, which met today, listened to the report of the Chairman Giovanni Malagó and the Chief Executive Officer, Andrea Varnier, and expressed optimism on the affair of the Cortina d'Ampezzo sliding centre, while waiting for SIMICO (Società Infrastrutture Milano Cortina 2026 SpA) to sign the contract with the contractor.

The eventual decision to entrust the work for the sliding centre to Cortina would therefore confirm the original masterplan that already identified the Queen of the Dolomites as the location, in addition to curling and women's alpine skiing, for sliding sports. Thanks to the new facility, the long tradition of Cortina in these sports would be strengthened and the work on future generations would be consolidated, which will continue, as has been the case until now, to give to our country
important medals and international victories.

By virtue of the new project, which is smaller than its original version, the Board of Directors of the Organising Committee has also taken note that the eventual decision of SIMICO would entail an extra budget for the implementation of some set-ups, to date not foreseen and necessary for the conduct of the races.

In addition, the Board of Directors, given the negative opinions received from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Federations, concerned by the tight deadlines that the work imposes, and also by virtue of SIMICO's communication of 03/01/2024 with which it was recommended to keep any alternative solutions open, resolved not to interrupt the dialogue with the other existing and functioning facilities, giving a mandate to the CEO to continue the work of negotiating a possible plan B which, also in this case, will require an extra budget.

Both in the case of the extra budget necessary to temporarily complete the needs of the Cortina facility, and in that relating to the possible relocation of the race venue, the Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026 will start a discussion with the competent institutions.

The Organising Committee of the Milano Cortina 2026 Games is in continuous contact with the IOC and the International Federations and reiterates that the pre-homologation tests cannot take place beyond the month of March 2025 for any reason. In closing, the Board of Directors expressly reaffirmed its firm desire to cooperate, as has been the case to date, with all the entities that, in various capacities, work towards the Games. In fact, only through a synergistic commitment will it be possible to achieve the set objectives.