Organisers of the 2026 Winter Olympics are scrambling to complete a number of venues that remain unfinished just weeks before the Games. The company responsible for infrastructure, Società Infrastrutture Milano Cortina (SIMICO), has assured that 31 key facilities will be ready on time. However, journalists note that SIMICO’s original plan, funded with €3.4 billion, included 98 projects, leaving the fate of many others uncertain.
A major concern is the new “Apollonio-Socrepes” cable car in Cortina d’Ampezzo, designed to ferry up to 2,400 spectators per hour to alpine skiing events. Construction began last summer, but by autumn 2025, delays were so severe that organisers had to cap ticket sales based only on road transport capacity.
While SIMICO officially states that installation of the 50 cabins is on schedule, reliable sources indicate the project cannot be fully completed, tested, and certified before the Olympics. Given the inherent risks of a “ropeway,” launching an untested system is considered unthinkable.
The picturesque town of Cortina (population under 6,000), which is hosting events in alpine skiing, biathlon, bobsleigh, luge, skeleton, and curling, is bracing for significant disruption. The cable car was a linchpin for moving crowds between venues. The town will now face a de facto lockdown, with strict vehicle access restrictions and fans required to use park-and-ride facilities outside the centre. Authorities are even considering cancelling school for local children on the busiest days to ease congestion.
Separately, the main hockey venue, the “Santa Giulia” arena, is also a race against time. Reports suggest hundreds of workers are on-site tackling unfinished media facilities, toilets, and back-of-house areas. It appears the arena will be operational but incomplete, with the most glaring issues to be addressed between the women’s and men’s tournaments.
The 2026 Olympic Organising Committee has admitted it has no “Plan B.” While athletes may endure discomfort in pursuit of their dreams, the situation promises a challenging experience for spectators and a major headache for local residents.
