When Cortina’s century-old Winter Olympic bobsleigh track closed 13 years ago for financial reasons, the coffee bar next door continued to serve espressos. Still, bar owner Renzo Constantine pines for the good old days.
Olympic 2026 fans worldwide can book Olympic Bobsleigh Tickets from our online platforms e-ticketing. co. Fans can book Olympic Tickets on our website at discounted prices. Experience the thrill of the Games in Milano Cortina and support your favorite athletes as they compete for glory.
when drivers and brakes would come whizzing down the track from one side of the cafe and hopping off their sleds on the other side and come in for a shot of espresso, a vin Brule or maybe even a taste of the local grappa. Or the days when his brother navigated the winding road in a two-person bobsled.
This was one of the most beautiful tracks in the world — one of the most technical tracks, St. Louis. Like Moritz. the 62-year-old Constantine said inside the coffee shop, aptly named Bob Bar — where old photos cover the walls to form an informal track museum. We provided a basic service for anyone who came he said.
While locals still come to Bob Bar, these days just about anyone comes for the rink, which used for the 1956 winter Olympic and hosted nine world championships — the last in 1999. It closed in 2008 because of rising maintenance costs. Just walking down the track, which submerged in dirt-deep snow, the only visible bobsleds were gathering dust in the reserved area under the starter.
Nostalgia at the Bob Bar: Celebrating Winter Olympic Milano Cortina’s Bobsleigh Legacy
As the track fell away, the sharp banked curves emerging from the snow against a backdrop of jagged mountains still provided a grand sight. A spectacle that the public hoped could rekindled for the Winter Olympic Milano Cortina 2026.
However, the 2026 location of the slide is due to concerns from the International winter Olympic Committee about runaway costs and white elephant facilities. The IOC suggested that instead of spending 50 million euros ($60 million) to rebuild the Cortina track, bobsledding, luge and skeleton could instead compete at a venue in neighboring Switzerland (St. Moritz) or Austria (gills).
Since Russia’s total costs associated with the 2014 Sochi Olympics exceeded $50 billion, the IOC is anxious to contain all infrastructure costs by local organizers. The policy allows events to be moved abroad to cut costs.
We continue to engage with all partners in light of the IOC Executive Board’s decision to create a working group to look into this issue the IOC said in a statement to The Associated Press.
As for the Italian Olympic Committee and the Federation of Italian Winter Sports (FISI), there is nothing left to say. Similarly, the Veneto region, which encompasses Cortina, approved funding last week for the reconstruction of the Eugenio Monti runway.
We’re dedicated to hosting the Winter Olympics in Italy said FISI president Flavio Rode. The bobsled track will be one of our lasting legacies.
Uncertain Future for Winter Olympic Milano Cortina’s Bobsleigh Track
There were also legacy promises when Italy last hosted the 2006 winter Olympic in Turin. But the nearly $100 million slide built for the Games at Cesena Parasol was demolished in 2012.
You have to build tracks where there’s some tradition said Gianfranco Rezzadore, president of Bob Club Cortina. And that’s what Cortina has. The Bob Club Cortina has existed since 1948.
The Cortina rink was built in 1923 and the resort known as the Queen of the Italian Dolomites was home to bobsledding great Eugenio Monti, who won six Olympic medals between 1956 and 1968. Like skiing, bobsledding is a tradition passed down through generations in Cortina. At least it used to be.
I grew up in the same house as Renaldo Rutty Rezzadore said, referring to the former world champion. His son and I used to bobsled. That’s how I got hooked he said. Rezzadore, a former Italian four-man bobsled champion, mentored local skeleton athlete Mattie Gaspar, who won bronze in last year’s mixed team world championships against Valentina Margallo.
When I was a kid, they would turn off the lights after every evening performance, and my friends and I would go down the track on a wooden snowshoe by moonlight every so often until someone found us and told us to leave Rezzadore said.
A Legacy of the Winter Olympics: Milano Cortina’s Bobsleigh Heritage
Retired downhill skier Kristian Chadian, who grew up next to the rally, fed his passion for speed by racing down the bobsled track on a Vespa after hours as a child. Whoever went highest on the parabolic curves won Chadian said. We drew orange lines on the track to see who got the highest he said.
Chadian inspired the James Bond movie for Your Eyes Only, where Bond, play Roger Moore, races down the Cortina track on skis while being chased by an armed motorcyclist.
AA stuntman died during the filming of a James Bond movie, just a week after American bobsledder James Morgan crashed to his death on the track at the 1981 world championships. Although the track has modified to make it more suitable, rode said current reconstruction plans also include making the finish less rugged.
Both CONI our federation committed to running, bobsled, luge and skeleton Rode added. A final decision could reached during the IOC coordination commission’s visit in April. This gold said Bob Bar owner Constantine.
Bobsleigh: Bree’s Journey to the Winter Olympics – Milano Cortina 2026
Bree Walker needs your help to go for gold in the next four years. With a 5th place finish at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Milano Cortina wants to go bigger and better in 2026 and podium; but this comes at a price!
The goal is to raise $100,000 over the next four years to go towards his expenses!! If you can support Bree’s next winter Olympic Campaign with a Tax Deductible donation you will be supporting Bree’s ambition to make history for Australia.
Lauren Brzozowski ’19 sets her sights on Winter Olympic 2026
Lauren Brzozowski ’19 was still on cloud nine a week after competing at the recent 2022 IBSF Junior World Championships in Gils, Austria, where she and her teammate put in a stronger performance than she expected.
Honestly I’m glad I didn’t crash said Brzozowski, who placed seventh in the doubles women’s bobsled at the European debut.
Brzozowski piloted the bobsled with USA teammate Michelle Slake, finishing in 56.6 seconds and 57.24 seconds in both heats with a combined time of 1:52.91.
Swinging belly down the bobsledding track wasn’t Brzozowski’s first dream. He came to Elon in 2015 on a full track scholarship. A specialist in the 400 and 200 meters, Brzozowski found success in track during her time at Elon but didn’t think she accomplished everything she set out to do.
Winter Olympics: Lauren Brzozowski — From Track Star to Bobsleigh Champion
Continuing his interest in track, he moved to the UK and began running for Loughborough University while at the same time pursuing a masters in marketing. He planned to compete in races across Europe and eventually pursue a professional track career.
COVID had other plans Brzozowski said. He returned to the U.S. because of the pandemic but was undeterred by his dream of becoming a professional athlete. She was watching the work of Veronica Day ’11, another Elon track alumna, and how Day transitioned to winter sports and was a member of the USA Skeleton team.
He’s been one of the reasons I see bobsled as a possibility. He connected me with the coaches to there Brzozowski said. He participated in a virtual workout that led to an in-person tryout for USA Bobsled & Skeleton in Lake Placid, New York, home to one of the toughest sledding tracks in the world. Subsequently, Brzozowski earned a spot with the Team USA bobsled development team.
Winter Olympics Bobsleigh Track: Lauren Brzozowski’s Inspiring Journey
Many of his bobsledding classes are similar to athletics classes, but more intense. I just have to lift heavier, run harder and then cash in on my whole career. Just a few differences he said. I looked down on coming to track practice for an hour a day, running in circles and going home without spending money.
It’s a lot more time commitment. The progression from just a track athlete to bobsled and the journey to get there crazy Brzozowski add.
But he didn’t completely shut the door on his track career. Track was my first love. I want to potentially go again for Team USA as a Masters track athlete see if I can a world record when I’m older she said.
Brzozowski began preparing for the Junior World Championships in the summer of 2021 as part of the USA bobsled development team. She hopes to compete in the upcoming Euro Cup and Junior World Championships and earn a spot in bigger competitions such as the Bobsleigh World Championships and the Winter Olympic.
The Commitment to Winter Olympic Bobsleigh: Lauren Brzozowski’s Path to Success
There is still a lot more work to done before I can considered for bigger competitions. But this is definitely one of the first steps I will get there one day, hopefully Brzozowski said.
While one of his primary goals is to compete in the Winter Olympic 2026 in Italy, Brzozowski understands that his bobsledding career has another equally significant objective.
I knew there were so many other great things I could do with this sport to inspire others, be a motivational speaker, give back to my community, help other players do things that they didn’t think it could he says. It’s incredible how a little story like mine can go beyond the ice.
Winter Olympics: Lauren Brzozowski — A Journey of Passion and Purpose
Brzozowski said his TikTok and Instagram platforms have grown exponentially since he started sharing his experience with bobsledding. Connecting with other athletes and people interested in sports is something he doesn’t take lightly and hopes to continue to build that base with others.
I’m grateful for my role and who I’ve been able to inspire because of it Brzozowski said. What is his advice to current student-athletes? Brzozowski said he would tell them to pursue their dreams no matter what the obstacles.
At Elon, she knows people will go out of their way to help a fellow Phoenix – just as Day did with her to get into bobsledding
and now students shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help when needed. There are many challenges in life, and one lesson from sports to overcome them is perseverance.
Brzozowski said, being able to take injuries or setbacks or obstacles that you may encounter in your career as a character confession Brzozowski said. Not just being an athlete but pursuing a career you love. There’s so much more plays can do for you off the field Brzozowski said.
Experience the magic and excitement as fans from around the world gather to celebrate the spirit of the Games. Secure your Olympic Opening Ceremony Tickets now and create memories that will last a lifetime at the unforgettable Winter Olympic 2026.