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The 2026 Winter Olympics are just a little over a year away and are scheduled to be held in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo in Italy. It marks the third time Italy will hold the Winter Olympics and first since 2006 in Turin. However, there is a catch.
A large portion of the 2026 Winter Olympics could also be held in Lake Placid, New York. Lake Placid has hosted the Winter Olympics twice, including the third-ever edition in 1932. But it’s best-known as home to the Miracle on Ice at the 1980 games.
So, why would Italy split the games with another country halfway across the world? The short answer is money, but the long answer has to do with bobsledding, luge and and skeleton
As part of its bid to host in 2026, Italy proposed reviving the Eugenio Monti sliding track in Cortino. The historic track was first opened in 1905 and used in the 1956 Winter Olympics. But the track had not been for over a decade and the cost of restoring it was well above the initial estimates.
Ultimately, the legendary track was torn down with a new one being built in its place. The new track is scheduled to be completed in early 2025 with approval for use shortly thereafter. But the IOC has been frustrated with the progress of the track and now has declared a backup plan
“New York State is honored to be selected, and we will work closely with Fondazione Milano Cortina to discuss the planning in a detailed manner to stage the Plan B back up plan,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said this week after the IOC announced the selection of Lake Placid as its Plan B.
Like the Eugenio Monti track, the Mt. Van Hoevenberg Olympic Bobsled Run holds plenty of his history. It was built in 1930 for the 1932 Winter Olympics and hosted sliding events again in 1980. It’s also the only track outside of Europe to host the luge world championship (1949, 1983).
Most recently, it held bobsled world championships in 2009 and 2012.
So while nothing is decided quite yet, if the call comes, the good ol’ US of A will be ready.