Olympic Cortina under pressure, cable car will not be completed in time

The organizers of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina are facing a serious logistical problem. The Apollonio–Socrepes cable car, which was supposed to play a key role in transporting spectators to competitions in Cortina d'Ampezzo, will not be completed on schedule.

This is according to an internal memo seen by Reuters, in which the state agency Simico informed the organizers that the project would not be delivered before the start of the Games. The cable car was supposed to transport spectators directly from the city center to the ski slopes and was considered an essential part of the transport plan.

According to the organizers, its failure significantly complicates traffic management, safety, and the city's ability to cope with the influx of visitors. They have therefore asked local authorities to close schools during the most critical days to reduce traffic in the city.

The project has been controversial for a long time—work started late, and residents have also pointed out the risk of landslides. Simico says construction is continuing and safety tests are planned, but organizers have already started limiting the number of tickets for Cortina.

(reuters, mja)