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≡ INTEL REPORT ≡
● Olympic Operations ● Reuters reported that the Apollonio-Socrepes gondola system designed to ferry spectators 1,100 m in 10-passenger cars to the Olympic women’s alpine competition in Cortina d’Ampezzo will apparently not be finished in time for the Games, leading to alternate solutions.
Reuters reported on a communication from the governmental Milano Cortina Infrastructure Company (SIMICO SpA) to the organizing committee on 28 January that the tram system will not be available as planned. So, alternative measures using buses led to a request from the organizers for school closures on 10 and 12 February and 11 February also if possible, for use of those facilities for transportation uses.
The organizing committee has limited ticket sales to capacities for which transportation can be guaranteed, starting last November and continuing now.
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The opening ceremony for the Milan Cortina Winter Games has added a performer: Riccardo Zuccolotto, an 11-year-old who was kicked off a bus in the Cortina d’Ampezzo area.
The boy boarded a Dolomiti Bus to go home from school last Tuesday (27th), but didn’t have the right fare to handle the Games-period increase to €10, which also required a special type of payment. Zuccolotto had regular tickets, but the driver told him he had to make a travel pass or pay with a debit card, as instructed by the bus company. So, the boy left the bus and walk about 6 km home in freezing conditions.
Informed of the situation, the organizing committee reached off and offered him a part in the 6 February opening, which was immediately accepted! The driver was suspended and the original ticket pricing and normal payment options were reinstated for local residents (who need to show identification, of course).
Zuccolotto is fine and excited; his grandmother – a lawyer – has filed a complaint, and the story was front-page news in Italy.
● Alpine Skiing ● The women’s Downhill in Crans-Montana (SUI) on Friday was cancelled after three of the first six racers failed to finish the course, including U.S. star Lindsey Vonn, who was the last to start.
FIS Race Director Peter Gerdol (SLO) explained, “The main reason is the safety of the athletes. The visibility was getting worse and worse, they couldn’t see the race line properly and it caused mistakes. We saw six athletes starting and all six had some mistakes. This was a sign that it was a high-risk situation. We know that our sport is a risky sport, but the feeling was too much risk.”
Vonn, in the midst of an amazing resurgence at age 41, had to be airlifted off the course, and wrote on Instagram later in the day:
“I crashed today in the Downhill race in Switzerland and injured my left knee. I am discussing the situation with my doctors and team and will continue to undergo further exams.
“This is a very difficult outcome one week before the Olympics… but if there’s one thing I know how to do, it’s a comeback.
“My Olympic dream is not over. Thank you for all of the love and support. I will give more information when I have it.
“Thank you to all the medical staff who helped me today. I am grateful for all the incredible help I received.
“Sending my best to @marte.monsen who also had a major crash and injury today.”
Vonn wrote on Saturday, after deciding not to race in the Super-G:
“Unfortunately, I won’t be able to race today… wishing all my teammates a great race.
“Thank you for all of the love and support I have received. Means the world to me.
“Doing my best right now….”
Her coach, Chris Knight, wrote Saturday that Vonn is “preparing for Cortina as usual,” in a text message to The Associated Press.
The women’s Downhill is scheduled for 8 February; training will be on 5-6-7 February.
● Bobsled & Skeleton ● American skeleton star Katie Uhlaender filed an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, claiming that the decision of Canadian coaches to remove four of their athletes from the final North American Cup race in Lake Placid, New York last month to reduce the number of points available – and protect the ranking of other Canadian racers – amounts to manipulation.
Reuters reported a statement from the Court of Arbitration:
“Ms Uhlaender requests that CAS determine whether a decision by BCS to withdraw four of its athletes from the 11 January 2026 IBSF North American Cup Race was in violation of the Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions, and that BCS coaches violated the IBSF Code of Conduct.”
The hearing was slated for today (1st). Uhlaender is seeking an added place in the women’s skeleton field for the Games, which would be her sixth. More than a dozen countries have joined a petition to have her included in the Games.
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