Milan-Cortina Olympics, here is the new Oval for speed skating

ROME – From Sochi to Pyeongchangpassing through Turin until you get to Milan-Cortina. The preliminary project for the new Oval where the competitions of speed skating for Winter Olympics of the 2026 edition: it will be built in the municipality of Baselga di Pinéin the province of Trento, which boasts a long tradition of world-class events and where generations of champions have trained and trained.

The architectural project of the new plant bears the signature of Studio Zoppini Architectsthe same ones who were entrusted with the design and construction of the Oval Stadium in Turin 2006but also the Arena for figure skating competitions and the Oval for Sochi 2014 (Russia) and the Oval for those Pyeongchang 2018 (South Korea).

The project, in fact, is double because it takes into account both the historical structure that is appropriately rearranged, and the needs of the Olympic competition. The current track will be redone, in light of the latest regulations, and a new roof with mobile stands that can accommodate up to 5,900 spectators. The new building will be built in continuity, with the same heights and taking up the shapes of the original one, “so as to form a single and continuous element that has as little impact on the context as possible”. The existing covered building, already Federal Center for Ice Sportswill be used for service and support activities such as changing rooms, reception and refreshment area.

“For the elaboration of the project – declared the architect Alessandro Zoppini, owner of the Milan studio –
we thought of a building as fictional as possible. For example, thinking about use in the post-Olympic phase, the slopes were sized and positioned in the lower part of the openings of the building. They will allow to have temperatures similar to the external ones and therefore to have conditions similar to the existing uncovered system without the use of mechanical systems. Furthermore, the advantage of having a cover will prevent direct solar radiation from the track. These choices will make it possible to have a more sustainable plant and to reduce management costs to a minimum “.