IOC confident of Winter Olympics preparation despite delays / Photo: Stefano RELLANDINI - AFP/File
-
South Africa accepts Trump's new US ambassador
-
Iraq's Maliki defends PM candidacy, seeks to reassure US
-
UEFA suspend Benfica's Prestianni after alleged racist abuse
-
Jetten sworn in as youngest-ever Dutch PM
-
Italy's Enel to invest 20bn euros in renewables by 2028
-
BBC apologises for 'involuntary' Tourette's racial slur during BAFTA awards
-
Kristen Bell returns to host glitzy Actor Awards in Hollywood
-
Iran says would respond 'ferociously' to any US attack
-
Venezuelan foreign minister demands 'immediate release' of Maduro
-
Dane Vingegaard to start season at Paris-Nice in March
-
Australia PM backs removing UK's Andrew from line of succession
-
Where do Ukraine and Russia stand after four years of war?
-
Police investigating racist abuse of Premier League quartet
-
Fiji to start Nations Championship at 'home' to Wales in Cardiff
-
EU lawmakers to put US trade deal on hold after Supreme Court ruling
-
Rubio to attend Caribbean summit as US presses Venezuela, Cuba
-
'Ugly' England aim to spin their way to T20 World Cup semi-finals
-
Nigeria paid Boko Haram ransom for kidnapped pupils: intel sources
-
Tudor says Tottenham can still beat the drop despite Arsenal loss
-
Violence sweeps Mexico after most-wanted drug cartel leader killed
-
France giant Meafou capable of being 'world's best' lock
-
World champions South Africa announce eight home Tests for 2026/27
-
Liverpool boss Slot encouraged by Mac Allister's return to form
-
India replaces British architect statue with independence hero
-
Pakistan warn England's flaky batting to expect a trial by spin
-
Philippines' Duterte authorised murders, ICC told as hearings open
-
Iran says would respond 'ferociously' to any US attack, even limited strikes
-
New Dutch government sworn in under centrist Jetten
-
What the future holds for the CJNG cartel after leader killed
-
ICC kicks off pre-trial hearing over Philippines' Duterte
-
UN chief decries global rise of 'rule of force'
-
Nemesio Oseguera, the brutal Mexican drug lord known as 'El Mencho'
-
Senegal's Sahad, radiant champion of 'musical pan-Africanism'
-
New York orders citywide travel ban as major storm hits US
-
'Considered a traitor': Life of an anti-war Ukrainian in Russia
-
South Korea and Brazil sign deals on K-beauty, trade
-
Zimbabwe farmers seek US help over long-promised payouts
-
Hong Kong appeals court upholds jailing of 12 democracy campaigners
-
India battle for World Cup survival after 'messing up on grand scale'
-
'I will go': Bengalis in Pakistan hope for family reunions
-
North Korea touts nuclear advances as Kim re-chosen to lead ruling party
-
South Korea protests 'Victory' banner hung from Russian embassy
-
Asian stocks rally after Trump's Supreme Court tariffs blow
-
New Dutch government to be sworn in under centrist Jetten
-
New York mayor orders citywide travel ban as major storm hits US
-
ICC to begin pre-trial hearing for Philippines' Duterte
-
After two convictions, France's Sarkozy seeks to merge sentences
-
Bridgeman hangs on to claim first PGA Tour title at Riviera
-
Hong Kong appeals court to rule on jailed democracy campaigners
-
Torras Properties Announces Demolition of Original Kut-Kwick Facility, Preparing Site for Future Waterfront Redevelopment
IOC confident of Winter Olympics preparation despite delays
One month out from the start of the Winter Olympic Games in Italy, the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) executive director Christophe Dubi told AFP on Tuesday that he was confident everything would be prepared on time, despite serious concerns.
Delays have hampered the preparation of some of the Milan-Cortina Olympic event sites, such as those used for ice hockey, snowboarding and freestyle skiing.
"We're at the stage where everything is coming together, with just a month to go to the opening ceremony," Dubi told AFP in a written response to questions.
"The preparation is moving from the planning phase to the full operational implementation across all clusters.
"Recent test events -- speed skating, ice hockey, and last weekend the biathlon at Val di Fiemme -- confirmed the readiness and provided us with valuable final information.
"All these things strengthen our confidence," he added.
The Santagiulia Arena in Milan, which will host the final stages of the ice hockey tournament, will be opened this week, a month behind schedule.
Next month's Games will mark a return of NHL stars to the Olympics for the first time in 12 years.
"The infrastructure for the ice hockey, I am talking about the dressing room, the practice area, the field of play, that's going to be ready," International Ice Hockey Federation president Luc Tardif said on Monday.
"We are going to have a fantastic tournament," he added.
The snowboard and freestyle competitions will be held in Livigno, near the Swiss border, where artificial snow needs to be produced to build the jumps, obstacles and mogul runs that will feature on the course.
That was delayed by several days due to a technical problem but the 2026 Games CEO Andre Varnier assured AFP on Monday that the snow production was progressing as forecast.
J.Oliveira--AMWN