German associations want 2026 Olympic races in the ice channel
The German Olympic Sports Confederation wants to submit a bid for the 2026 Olympic races in the ice track together with the German Bobsleigh and Luge Federation (BSD). BSD President Andreas Trautvetter confirmed this to the German Press Agency.
"The timeline is very tight, the documents from Italy have arrived. We need a week to evaluate this with the partners at the tracks and the politicians. However, we need a clear decision from the German government on the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes before December 1st," said Trautvetter, who is also Vice President of the Bobsleigh and Skeleton World Federation.
Novelty in 102-year history
As the host, Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo, currently lacks a suitable ice track for the bobsleigh, luge and skeleton competitions, the races will be held outside Italy, according to the head of organization Giovanni Malago. He recently made the announcement at the IOC Session in Mumbai, India. This would be the first time in the 102-year history of the Winter Games that competitions would be held outside the host country.
The background to the planned relocation is the decision to abandon plans to rebuild the demolished Eugenio Monti track in Cortina after no company applied for the tender.
"Have good cards"
But in the background, renewed efforts are underway to renovate the track in Cesana Pariol, where the 2006 Olympic races were held. "The chances are good that the track will be reactivated, we have very good cards, it has to be decided in November," Armin Zöggeler told dpa.
The 2002 and 2006 Olympic luge champion, who has been Vice President Technology at the Luge World Federation (Fil) since 2018, sees the statements made by the head of the OC at the IOC session as a "misinterpretation. Internally, we heard something different."
The International Olympic Committee had recently ruled out new track construction if there was no viable plan for subsequent use. "This position was confirmed several times during the discussions in Cortina and also applies to Cesana," says the IOC. If the modernization of the ice channel, which has been closed since 2011, cannot be realized, the German artificial ice rinks are also available for selection in addition to Innsbruck/Igls in Austria.
In spite of the challenges, the German Olympic Sports Confederation and the German Bobsleigh and Luge Federation are considering Tobogganing and Skeleton events in Olympia for the 2026 Olympic Games, depending on the decision of the German government regarding the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes by December 1st.
After facing issues with rebuilding the Eugenio Monti track in Cortina, officials are considering holding the Bobsleigh, Luge, and Skeleton competitions outside Italy, potentially at Olympia, as confirmed by the head of organization Giovanni Malago.
Source: www.dpa.com
