Cesana Pariol

Picture of turns 15 through 19 (right to left) of Cesana Pariol during the 2006 Winter Olympics

Cesana Pariol was the venue for bobsleigh, luge and skeleton during the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. The track, built for the games, is located in Cesana. The venue holds approximately 7,130 spectators, of whom 3,624 are seated.

Construction details

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The track is constructed with about 54 miles (87 km) of ammonia refrigeration pipes to help form ice on the track for proper sliding. Numerous sensors located along the track ensure that the ice's thickness is kept between 5 and 10 cm (2 and 4 in) to keep the track properly smooth during competitions.

History

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During construction of the track prior to the 2006 games, there was concern that the track would be completed in time for homologation. An archaeological find (a small part of a Roman ruins) during construction slowed progress until the remains were excavated (near the current Turn 11).

The track was completed on end of 2004. In January 2005, the FIBT and FIL held their homologation events at the track. The FIBT had no issue when they ran their events during the weekend of 21–23 January 2005. The following week, the FIL ran their events, and had several crashes. Included in the crashes were Austria's Wolfgang Linger (broken ankle and calfbone), Brazil's Renato Mizoguchi (medically induced coma), and the U.S. Virgin Islands' Anne Abernathy (collarbone). During the summer of 2005, discussions were held among TOROC (the organizer of the 2006 Games), FIBT President Robert H. Storey (Canada), and FIL President Josef Fendt (Germany) about refitting the track for safety reasons. An agreement was reached by all three, and turns 16 through 18 were modified as such. The track was finally modified in late 2005 in time for homologation. Test runs done by Italy's Armin Zöggeler in late October 2005 led to the track being homologated on 31 October 2005 after it had been approved by former German national team coach Josef Lenz and FIL track commission chair Klaus Bonsack.

Cesana Pariol is now part of the complex called Torino Olympic Park. Post-Olympic usage for the tracks includes bobsleigh and luge rides for the public.

In October 2009, problems with early refrigeration of the track led the Bob- und Schlittenverband für Deutschland in Germany to lend support of short-order auxiliary services for foreign teams on such short notice. Starting 16 October, Italy and Japan's teams trained at the track in Winterberg while Austria's team trained at Königssee's track.

The track was scheduled to host events in 2011-12, but was shut down due to economic costs. After pressure from the FIBT and FIL in early 2012, the track was scheduled to run in 2012-13 only to be shut down again. In October 2012, the track was ordered to be dismantled by Cesana officials. The 45 tons of ammonia was moved from the track's refrigeration for other uses within the Turin region. However, during the 2014 Winter Olympics, President of the CONI, Giovanni Malagò, expressed the intention to ensure new investments to keep the track open.[1]

The track was considered for renovation for the 2026 Winter Olympics to be used for the sliding events, as the CONI was having trouble finding a venue for them.[2] The plans were turned down after an Italian construction company offered a €81.6 million bid to rebuild the Eugenio Monti olympic track in Cortina d'Ampezzo used in the 1956 Winter Olympics.[3]

Statistics

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Physical statistics
Sport Length of track (meters) Number of turns
Bobsleigh, skeleton, and luge - men's singles 1435 19 (11 left and 8 right)
Luge - women's singles and men's doubles 1233 17 (9 left and 8 right)

The venue includes a vertical drop of 114 meters from start to finish.

Turns
Turn Number Name Reason named
1. Champlas Local town near the track.
2. Gancio Italian for "Hook"
3. Il Muro Italian for "The Wall". Women's singles and men's double luge have their start house after this turn.
4., 5. Gemelli Italian for "Twins".
6., 7., 8. Toro Italian for "Bull". Also for the toroid or torus shape of these three turns. It is also an Omega-shaped curve.
9. Cesana The comune where the track is located.
10. Nino Bibbia 1948 Winter Olympics gold medalist in skeleton at St. Moritz. Italy's first gold medalist in bobsled, luge, or skeleton, and its first-ever Winter Olympic medalist.
11. Museo Italian for "Museum". An archeological find was found near this turn during track construction.
12., 13. Chicane Shape of these curves.
14. Chaberton After the Chaberton Mountains that the inside of this curve faces.
15. Lavatrice Italian for "Washing machine"
16. Compressione Italian for "Compression". From the compressive forces put upon the body during the maneuvering of the sled through the turn.
17. Paul Hildgartner Formerly "Senza Nome" ("Without Name" in (in Italian)). Named for luger who won four Winter Olympic, five world championship, and six European championship medals between 1971 and 1988. Among first inductees in FIL Hall of Fame in 2004.
18. Pariol The village in Cesana where the track is located.
19. Eugenio Monti Six-time Olympic medalist and 10-time bobsled World Champion medalist from 1957 to 1968.
Track records
Sport Record Nation - athlete(s) Date Time (seconds)
Bobsleigh - two-man Start[4]  Switzerland - Beat Hefti & Thomas Lamparter 5 December 2009 4.72
Luge - men's singles Start[5] David Möller -  Germany 29 January 2010 2.457
Luge - men's singles Track[5] Albert Demtschenko -  Russia 12 February 2006 51.396
Luge - women's singles Start[6] Silke Kraushaar -  Germany 14 February 2006 4.320
Luge - women's singles Track[6] Natalie Geisenberger -  Germany 31 January 2010 46.817
Luge - men's doubles Start[7]  Germany - Tobias Wendl & Tobias Arlt 29 January 2010 4.258
Luge - men's doubles Track[7]  Italy - Christian Oberstolz & Patrick Gruber 30 January 2010 46.293
Women's skeleton Track[8] Shelley Rudman -  United Kingdom 4 December 2009 58.71

Championships hosted

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Notes

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  1. ^ "SLITTINO, MALAGO': PISTA CESANA? SPERO SI SBLOCCHI LA SITUAZIONE - Sport - Repubblica.it".
  2. ^ "Italian Government wants bobsleigh to remain in country for Milan Cortina 2026". www.insidethegames.biz. 23 October 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  3. ^ "Italy signs risky sliding track deal for Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics against IOC recommendation". GamesBids.com. 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  4. ^ "Hefti and Lamparter Set Records, Win in Cesana". International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation. 5 December 2009. Archived from the original on 7 January 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2009.
  5. ^ a b FIL Luge World Cup Cesana 30 January 2010 men's singles results. - Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  6. ^ a b FIL Luge World Cup Cesana 31 January 2010 women's singles results. - Retrieved 31 January 2010.
  7. ^ a b FIL Luge World Cup Cesana 30 January 2010 doubles results. - Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  8. ^ "Rudman Wins in Cesana, Takes World Cup Lead". International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation. 4 December 2009. Archived from the original on 7 January 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2009.

References

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44°57′08″N 6°48′19″E / 44.952346°N 6.805147°E / 44.952346; 6.805147

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