First athlete tests new bobsleigh track in Cortina

(ANSA) - ROME, MAR 25 - Italian skeleton athlete Mattia Gaspari, a native of Cortina d'Ampezzo, was the first racer to test the new bobsleigh track at Italy's most famous mountain resort which will host the 2026 Winter Olympics with Milan.
    "It is an incredible satisfaction to be able to say that I was the first to go down 'my' track, which I can see from my home's window", said Gaspari, a member of the Italian national skeleton team.
    He was followed by skeleton champion Dominik Fischnaller, and by skeleton duo Simone Bertazzo and Eric Fantazzini.
    Italy rushed to finish the sliding venue for the bobsleigh, luge and skeleton competitions before testing it this month.
    The construction of the bobsleigh track sparked a bitter controversy over the felling of dozens of trees with several environmental associations filing complaints in relation to the demolition of the old Monti track and tree-felling to make way for the new facility.
    Last year plans to build a new bobsleigh track in Cortina looked set to be scrapped due to cost issues, amid proposals to hold the sliding events outside Italy.
    However in the end the government and Veneto region decided to press ahead with the original plans.
    Milan and Cortina will host the Winter Olympics from February 6 to 22, 2026, and then the Paralympics from March 6 to 15.
    (ANSA).