 The Turin Games will be held in February 2006 |
Test venues for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin have been completed ahead of schedule, according to the building agency responsible. Agenzia Torino 2006 said the bobsled track, ski jumping facility and all the Alpine and Nordic venues were ready.
The skating arena is also receiving "final touches".
"For the first time in the history of the Olympics we have completed the main venues a year before the event," said games supervisor Mario Pescante.
The Cesana bobsled track, which will also be used for skeleton and luge, will host World Cup races from 20-23 January.
The venue had fallen behind schedule when environmental problems forced builders to move the location. Completion required a 20-man team working in turn over two night shifts.
The ski jumping facility in Pragelato is also complete and will host a World Cup event on 11-12 February.
The Palavela skating arena in Turin will host a short track event from 14-16 January and the European figure skating championships are set for 24-30 January.
International Olympic Committee and other sports officials had expressed worries that certain venues might not be completed in time.
The Turin Olympics are scheduled for 10-26 February 2006.
MMIX
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