Winter Sports at Risk: Bobsleigh, Luge & Skeleton Facing Olympic Axe?

Concerns are mounting over the future of bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton competitions at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, with reports suggesting the events could be cut from the program due to escalating costs and sustainability concerns.

The potential removal of the sliding sports follows significant cost overruns in the construction of the Cortina Sliding Centre, the planned venue for the competitions. Initially budgeted at 42 million euros, the project ultimately cost 118 million euros to complete, according to reports circulating in Polish media and corroborated by web search results. Annual maintenance costs for the facility are estimated at approximately one million euros, raising questions about its long-term financial viability.

Italian oversight institutions have indicated that revenue generated by the venue is unlikely to cover its expenses, echoing a pattern seen with other Olympic sliding tracks that have closed after hosting the Games. This financial strain, coupled with environmental considerations and a low sustainability rating, has fueled discussions about whether the sports should remain part of the Olympic program.

The potential exclusion of these disciplines would represent a significant blow to Germany, a dominant force in the sliding sports. At the 2021 World Championships held in Cortina d’Ampezzo, German athletes secured 19 of the 26 medals awarded in bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton, including six of the eight gold medals.

Thomas Schwab, the sports director of the German Bobsleigh and Sled Association, acknowledged the situation but expressed optimism that solutions could be found. He suggested exploring the possibility of constructing less expensive, modular tracks as a potential alternative.

While the sliding sports are currently scheduled to be included in the 2030 and 2034 Winter Games programs, a final decision regarding their fate at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics is expected during the International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Lausanne this June. The IOC has not yet issued a statement on the matter.