After many twists and turns, the track for bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton has been tested ahead of the Olympic Games in just under a year.
Forest has been cleared to, in a short time and with intense work, complete the nearly two-kilometer-long track, and criticism has come from, among others, environmental organizations. Both the high costs and the need for a track after the Olympic Games have been questioned.
The tone was entirely different when the track had been test-driven for the first time on Tuesday.
I want to thank the workers who came from all over the world to Cortina to create this miracle that so well represents Italy, says the country's transport minister and vice premier Matteo Salvini about the billion-kronor project.
The Olympic competitions in bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton seemed to be able to be moved to another country when Salvini revived the project to build a track at the end of 2023.
Now, with the construction completed, he drew parallels to when architect Filippo Brunelleschi built the dome of the cathedral in Florence in the 15th century.
History is full of Italians who have dared, says Salvini.
