{"id":17577,"date":"2026-01-31T19:49:32","date_gmt":"2026-01-31T19:49:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=17577"},"modified":"2026-01-31T19:49:32","modified_gmt":"2026-01-31T19:49:32","slug":"2026-winter-olympics-ice-hockey-venue-still-being-built-five-days-before-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=17577","title":{"rendered":"2026 Winter Olympics: Ice hockey venue still being built five days before Games"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Santagiulia is due to host many of the biggest ice hockey fixtures at the Games, including the men’s and women’s gold medal matches.<\/p>\n

The first match is due to be held there on Thursday, 5 February, when hosts Italy face France in their first game of the women’s competition.<\/p>\n

However, the stadium, less than a week before that game, is far from ready to host matches.<\/p>\n

The stadium has been the centre of concerns throughout the build-up to the Games, including resulting in a boycott warning<\/a> from the National Hockey League (NHL).<\/p>\n

The rink in Milan, approved by the International Ice Hockey Federation, is shorter than the minimum requirement in the NHL, leading to suggestions there could be an increase in high-speed collisions. The quality of the ice has also been questioned.<\/p>\n

“Obviously, if the players feel that the ice is unsafe, we’re not going to play,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said in November. “It’s as simple as that.”<\/p>\n

The NHL said it was “pleased” with the test event at the arena in January<\/a>, although that did not pass without incident. During the event there was a short delay while a small hole in the ice had to be repaired.<\/p>\n

Santagiulia is one of two ice hockey venues for the Games, with the Milano Rho Arena staging some group-stage matches.<\/p>\n

The Rho Arena, a temporary venue constructed in the Fiera Milano exhibition centre, has a capacity of 5,800 – 6,000 fewer than Santagiulia.<\/p>\n

BBC Sport visited all four venues in the Milan Cluster which will host events during the Games, which officially run between 6 and 22 February.<\/p>\n

As well as the ice hockey venues, speed skating will take place at a temporary venue in Fiera Milano to the west of the city, while short track and figure skating are at Unipol Forum on the southern outskirts.<\/p>\n

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has been contacted for comment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

#Winter #Olympics #Ice #hockey #venue #built #days #Games<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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