Just over three months before the opening of the Olympic Games, a bad omen hangs over Milan. The Santagiulia Arena, which will host the hockey tournament, may not be ready on time due to significant delays in construction and delivery, a report says.Associated Press.
• Also read: Athens Games silver medalist convinced to see World Cup in Mont-Sainte-Anne again
• Also read: Former Montreal Canadiens fan criticizes mountain bike world championship course producer
The 16,000-seat amphitheater, covering an area of 77,000 square meters, is the main venue for men's and women's tournaments. The Milan-Cortina games will mark the return of NHL players after a 12-year absence, having missed competitions in South Korea in 2018 and China in 2022 after attending Sochi in 2014.
Let us remind you that the NHL leadership, for various reasons, did not come to an agreement with the International Hockey Federation (FIHG).
According to the American press agency, the organizing committee of the games said that the test event at the competition site was moved to a smaller arena. Although it was due to take place in mid-December during the Under-20 World Cup (Group B), a later date for the construction of the main arena has not yet been set.
The FIHG World Championships will take place at the Rho Fiera Arena on the outskirts of Milan. This atypical exhibition center for sporting events would also host less popular Olympic matches.
Guitarist Slash (Saul Hudson) performs with his band Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators (Myles Kennedy, Todd Kerns, Brent Fitz and Frank Sidoris) on stage at the Gods of Metal festival at Arena Fiera Milano Live. Rho, Italy. June 23, 2012 (Photo by Francesco Prandoni\Archivio Francesco Prandoni\Mondadori via Getty Images)”
Getty Images
From the private sector
Construction of the amphitheater, entrusted to private real estate and development company Risanamento, began in 2022 with a budget of 295 million Canadian dollars (180 million euros).
L'Associated Press reports that no match can be played at the Santagiulia Center Ice Arena until the preliminary stage of the women's hockey tournament, which is scheduled to begin on February 5.
According to International Olympic Committee (IOC) procedure, competition venues must undergo safety, logistics and operational reviews in the year leading up to the Games.
It appears that these strict rules do not apply at the Santagiulia arena.
While the women's Olympic tournament was scheduled to begin on February 5, the men's competition will start on February 11. Again, nothing is certain.
“Once the Games start it will be very crowded and the timing will be very tight. We already knew that,” Andrea Warnier, president and director of operations of the Milan-Cortina Games organizing committee, told The Associated Press.
Photo Archives, Getty Images
After the Games, the site will be transformed into a multi-sports center capable of hosting ATP tennis matches, among other things.
