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The President of the International Ski Federation (FIS) has expressed concern about delays at major venues scheduled to host winter Olympics The following February, the situation was described as “unclear”.
FIS President Johan Elias highlighted issues with the production of artificial snow needed for the freestyle skiing and snowboarding events at the Milan-Cortina Games.
LivignoThe snow park and aerials and moguls park will be key venues during the Olympics, which run from February 6 to 22, with 26 gold medals up for grabs.
“It has been delayed,” the Swede said on the sidelines of an alpine skiing World Cup event in Val d’Isere on Saturday.
“Unfortunately, the Italian government has not released any funds, so (organisers) are struggling to make ends meet, which is a real shame.
“It’s incomprehensible. But I hope it all works out. We have a plan B, a plan C, a plan D… but it’s unfortunate to find ourselves in a situation we should never have been in. We call them three times a day, morning, afternoon and night.”
Livigno’s venues must produce large quantities of artificial snow to create the halfpipes and jumps required for snowboarding and freestyle skiing events, their snow cannons are supplied by water from the Monte Sponda reservoir.
Artificial snow production was scheduled to begin last week.
In response to Eliash’s comments, Livigno Mayor Remo Galli said the delay was caused by a technical problem.
“We will have all the snow we need for a great Olympics. In fact, we will have a lot more,” Galli told Italian news agency ANSA. “It was necessary to replace a valve, but it was done within the time limit, and all the snow guns have been working for a few evenings.
“We are doing well, for Livigno and for Italy. And then in the next few days, the temperature will drop further, even to 20 degrees below zero, so I am not worried at all.”
Livigno is not the only venue facing delays, with work on the Santagiulia ice hockey arena in Milan – the venue for the ice hockey competition – seriously running behind schedule And organizers are admitting there is no backup stadium if it is not ready in time.
Additional reporting by Reuters