Concerns about the Olympics: Ice hockey halls in Milan are on the brink!

Concerns about the Olympics: Ice hockey halls in Milan are on the brink!

Almost three months before the Winter Olympics, which begin on February 6, 2026 in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, things are simmering around the organization. The German Ice Hockey Association (DEB) expresses concerns about the infrastructural conditions in Milan. National coach Harold Kreis is planning a short-term trip to Milan to inspect the hall where the German team will appear twice. This hall, the Santa Giulia Arena, is currently under construction and should only be completed shortly before the games. The concerns about this scheduling are more than justified, because a test event planned for December had to be moved to a smaller hall, as 1und1 reports.

DEB sports director Christian Künast also emphasizes that the stadiums still need improvements, especially the temporary hall on the exhibition grounds. “There is still a lot to do here,” he says, making it clear that the long journey times of around 30 kilometers between the various ice hockey venues make planning considerably more difficult. The German men have to play two of three preliminary round games in Milan, while the women will even play all of the games there. “The training has to be meaningful, otherwise it will be difficult,” Künast continued.

Challenges of transport logistics

Another problem is emerging: the transport logistics for athletes and carers are described as particularly challenging. Just in time for the Olympics, athletes and teams will have to travel long distances between the different competition venues. The organizers' sustainability has its limits in a few corners, as there are more than five hours' drive between the competition locations in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo.

And weather conditions could also influence the event. In the Alps, the risk of landslides and uncertain snow conditions are regressively high, which could affect the course of the sporting event. According to NW, even the avalanche danger on the Foscagno Pass has led to an additional safety project after Livigno: an avalanche protection tunnel is currently being built.

Criticism of the stadium planning

The president of the world association, Luc Tardif, has already called for immediate improvements and criticized the Olympic organizers for the inadequate stadium planning. The mistrust of the construction work is not unfounded. The planned ice track in Cortina d'Ampezzo has already been able to carry out its first international test runs, but the culmination of the all-encompassing construction site chaos is still to come. The construction of this ice track alone cost around 82 million euros and was a controversial undertaking, as the IOC continued to prefer an existing track.

In summary, it remains to be seen how the situation will develop in the coming weeks. The main question is whether the required infrastructure can be completed on time. Hopes rest on those responsible that they will show a good hand in ensuring that the Winter Games run smoothly.