What's happened
Construction delays at the Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan have caused concern, but recent tests and expert oversight suggest the venue will be ready for the Winter Olympics. NHL players are expected to participate, with ice quality and safety being key focus points.
What's behind the headline?
The progress at the Santagiulia Arena reflects a significant effort to meet Olympic standards despite initial setbacks. The focus on ice quality, driven by experienced ice master Mark Messer, underscores the importance of technical precision for Olympic success. The NHL's cautious stance, emphasizing safety, highlights the high stakes involved. The recent positive test events suggest that the venue will meet the necessary standards, but the tight timeline leaves little room for further delays. The arena's readiness will be a key factor in the overall success of the hockey tournaments, and its completion signals Italy's commitment to hosting a high-quality Olympic event. The ongoing oversight by experts and the positive feedback from test events indicate confidence that the venue will be operational in time, but close monitoring remains essential.
What the papers say
The articles from AP News and The Japan Times provide a comprehensive overview of the venue's progress, highlighting both the concerns and the recent positive developments. AP News emphasizes the construction delays and safety concerns raised by the NHL, while The Japan Times quotes IIHF President Luc Tardif expressing confidence in the arena's readiness. The detailed descriptions of ice-making processes and test events underscore the technical challenges involved. The contrasting opinions from different sources reflect a cautious optimism, with authorities and experts working to ensure the venue's success despite initial hurdles.
How we got here
The Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena faced weeks of delays and concerns over construction progress and ice quality ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics. The venue is crucial as it marks the return of NHL players to Olympic hockey after more than a decade. Tests and inspections have been ongoing since late 2025 to ensure readiness.
Go deeper
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Luc Tardif is a Canadian-born French ice hockey executive, and former professional ice hockey player. A native of Trois-Rivières, Quebec, he played in the Quebec Junior A Hockey League and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, then was an all-star playe
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The National Hockey League is a professional ice hockey league in North America, currently comprising 31 teams: 24 in the United States and 7 in Canada.
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The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF; French: Fédération internationale de hockey sur glace; German: Internationale Eishockey-Föderation) is a worldwide governing body for ice hockey. It is based in Zurich, Switzerland, and has 84 member count
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Milan is a city in northern Italy, capital of Lombardy, and the second-most populous city in Italy after Rome. Milan served as the capital of the Western Roman Empire, the Duchy of Milan and the Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia.
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The 2026 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XXV Olympic Winter Games, and commonly known as Milano Cortina 2026, is a forthcoming international multi-sport event that is scheduled to take place from 6 to 22 February 2026 in the Italian cities of Mil