A tragic incident has come to mar the preparations for the Winter Olympics, now slated to take place in 2026. In January, an Italian guard fell victim while working a frigid overnight shift at a job site near Cortina d’Ampezzo. That worker, a 55-year-old man, died on a night when the temperature dropped to -12C (10.4F). The tragic event has Italy’s minister of infrastructure, Matteo Salvini, pushing for immediate action. He’s now demanding a full investigation into the circumstances that led to this worker’s death.
Italy’s Cortina d’Ampezzo will be a focal point for the upcoming Winter Olympics. It’ll serve as the stage for a number of thrilling events, including curling, sliding, and women’s Alpine skiing. The idyllic settlement is known globally for its natural beauty and award-winning ski resorts. It is home to an internationally certified ice arena that will host the majority of the games.
Milan is preparing to welcome the world with a packed schedule of events. That centerpiece will be the opening ceremony of the Olympics, scheduled for February 6 – February 22, 2026. In addition to Milan, elements of the opening ceremony will take place across three other locations: Livigno in the Italian Alps and Predazzo in the autonomous province of Trento.
One of the world’s most famous football stadiums, the San Siro will have a prominent role in the opening festivities too. The ceremony will include appearances by some highly recognized performers including tenor Andrea Bocelli and pop star Mariah Carey. They are bound to deliver major star power to the event! The fashion extravaganza will honor the late Italian couturier Giorgio Armani. He died at age 91 last September.
Preparations for the 2022 Winter Olympics are already well underway. This tragic incident again underscores how important it is to protect the safety of workers on construction zones, especially in dangerous weather conditions. We welcome the call for investigation by Minister Salvini. It seeks to find any lapses in safety protocols that could have led to this tragic loss of life.