Snowfall helps Cortina prepare for Winter Games as construction crunch continues

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy — A long‑awaited round of snowfall has arrived in Cortina just as the city races to prepare for the upcoming Olympic opening ceremonies. The snow brought both relief and new challenges as workers push to finish construction.

Some regular visitors, like Elena Belagia, of Milan, said the fresh snow brought a welcome improvement.

"The trees are full of snow, and so it's amazing," Belagia said. "They are very lucky, because I come here near Cortina every year, and I've never seen so much snow in this period."

Workers cleared roads and sidewalks, even as construction crews continued to rush to complete Olympic venues. In many areas, jackhammers and concrete crews were still at work.

The snowfall also came as a relief to winter sports fans. "The last two years, no snow. And this year — perfect," said Andrea Demeter, who was visiting from Germany.

Still, the storm adds pressure for crews already racing to the finish. At the Alpine Skiing Center, cable cars intended to shuttle spectators up the mountain will not be ready in time, forcing organizers to use buses during the early days of competition.

Still, fans say the renewed winter weather is boosting excitement ahead of the Games. "It's so exciting. We're so happy they have snow," said Denise Wittich, who is visiting with her husband from Florida. "We came in on Dec. 22, and it was brown everywhere."

Organizers have also relied heavily on snowmaking to prepare the courses. Dozens of snow guns have produced hundreds of millions of gallons of artificial snow across multiple venues. Officials say they are trying to make only what is necessary.

With the opening ceremonies just days away, visitors say the snowfall is helping bring the atmosphere they hoped for.

"It's very nice because on Saturday we begin," Belaglia said. "It's amazing, I think, for the athletes and for the people who are here."

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