Background on the Winter Olympics and Key Participants
The Winter Olympics of 2026, to be held in Milan-Cortina, are facing a setback due to a technical issue in artificial snow production. This problem has arisen at Livigno, the venue for snowboard and freestyle skiing events. The organizing committee acknowledged the issue to AFP, highlighting the importance of resolving it for a successful event.
Livigno Snow Park and its Requirements
To ensure adequate snow coverage for the Livigno Snow Park and create necessary modules, jumps, and half-pipes for snowboard and freestyle skiing events, the organizers rely on producing substantial amounts of artificial snow. Their snow cannons are fed by water from the Monte Sponda reservoir, which has a capacity of 203,000 cubic meters.
Reservoir Construction and Completion
The construction of the Monte Sponda reservoir, costing €21.7 million (approximately $25.5 million), was completed by late November. This reservoir is crucial for supplying water to the snow cannons.
Technical Issue and Resolution
In recent days, a technical problem affected the water supply system for the snow cannons. The organizers promptly resolved the issue within 72 hours and are now conducting tests to restart the system. They expect to resume artificial snow production shortly.
Concerns from International Ski Federation
Even before this technical issue, Michel Vion, General Secretary of the International Ski Federation (FIS), expressed concern to AFP about delays in Livigno’s facilities. He emphasized the importance of sufficient snow for these disciplines, stating that both natural and artificial snow are necessary to ensure optimal conditions for the events.
Organizing Committee’s Assurance
The organizing committee for the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics (February 6-22) stated that their relationship with the International Ski Federation and the International Olympic Committee (COI) remains excellent. They assured daily communication with both organizations, keeping them informed of all progress.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the issue? A technical problem has affected the water supply system for artificial snow cannons at Livigno.
- When was the issue identified? The problem was detected in the past few days.
- How was the issue resolved? The organizers promptly fixed the problem within 72 hours.
- When will artificial snow production resume? The organizers expect to restart production in the coming days after successful tests.
- Why is artificial snow important for the Winter Olympics? Artificial snow is crucial to ensure adequate snow coverage and optimal conditions for events like snowboard and freestyle skiing.
- What is the status of relations between the organizing committee, FIS, and COI? The organizing committee maintains excellent relationships with both the International Ski Federation and the International Olympic Committee, ensuring daily communication and transparency.
