Bobsleigh Closed

It is bad news for the bobsleigh, skeleton and luge athletes and enthusiasts of Italy and Europe, as the Parcolimpico announced the closure of the track in Cesana Pariol. The company that now controls the Olympic legacy in Turin and the Susa valley decided it was no longer cost effective to open and run the track. The cost of opening the track was in the region of one million euros per year. With the economic crisis deepening in Europe, and Italy especially, the funding for this minority sport has dried up.

The prosecutor in Turin had also declared the system insecure, and that the track should be under armed guard 24hrs a day. This is due to the high quantity of ammonia held at the site. Ammonia was used in the refrigeration of the track, to create the ice sheet needed for the bobsled, luge and skeleton to pass down the piste. Being an armed guard, this would suggest it might have been subject to an attack or theft of some description. The 50 tonnes of ammonia that was at the site has now been removed and is being used for other purposes.

The World and European Cup events which were due to be held In Cesana Paroil have now been moved to La Plagne. This was the host venue during the Albertville Olympic Games in 1992.

Hopefully something will change in the future and bobsleigh, skeleton and luge will return to the track in Sansicario.