3+ hour, 11+ min ago (125+ words) Winter Olympics organisers "optimistic" ice hockey venue will be ready in time for Games - Construction of the Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan is significantly behind schedule. - Organisers have confirmed there is no back-up venue if the 16,000-seat arena is not completed on time. - A planned test event was moved, with new tests now scheduled for 9-11 January, just a month before the Games commence. - Andrea Francisi, chief games operations officer for Milan-Cortina, stated there is "no plan B" but is "optimistic" the venue will be ready. - The first Olympic hockey game is scheduled for 5 February, one day before the opening ceremony, despite new venues typically being tested at least a year in advance....

13+ hour, 38+ min ago (330+ words) Work on the venue of one of the Winter Games" flagship sports is running seriously behind schedule Construction of the 2026 Winter Olympics ice hockey venue is going right down to the wire, with the organisers admitting there is no back-up plan if the arena is not ready on time. Work on the Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena " the new, 16,000-seat venue on the outskirts of Milan " is running behind schedule, but there is no alternative stadium that could be called in at the last minute. A planned test event had to be moved and new test events aren't scheduled until 9-11 January, just a month before the start of the Games. "So necessarily we have to be able to organize the competition in an impeccable manner at Santagiulia." The first scheduled Olympic hockey game at the arena is a women's preliminary round…...

4+ day, 9+ hour ago (298+ words) Those who fail to comply with the mandate face a fine and a suspension of their lift pass Italy has introduced a mandatory helmet law for all skiers and snowboarders. The rule, which came into effect on 1 November ahead of this year's ski season, requires all users of Italy's pistes to wear a CE-certified helmet " the "Conformit" Europ"enne" " which complies with EU health and safety standards. The new mandate aims to reduce serious head injuries in the wake of growing concern over winter sports safety. Those who fail to adhere to the rule could risk a fine of up to "200 (175) and a suspension of their lift pass. The new ruling makes Italy the first European country to impose such a mandate. North Korea is the only other country which is cited as having a similar rule. "We believe 95 per…...

1+ week, 4+ day ago (228+ words) Milan-Cortina will be the first Winter Olympics to feature compulsory neck guards in ice hockey Ice hockey's governing body is to make protective neck guards mandatory at the Winter Olympics next year. The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) announced in December 2023 that it would change its rules to make neck guards compulsory in all the competitions it oversees, but did not confirm a specific date when the policy would be brought in. It has since told BBC Sport that "we can confirm the neck guards will be mandatory according to the IIHF Rule Book" in advance of next February's Olympic Games. Neck guards were previously optional at Olympic level and are not typically required at other elite level competitions. Nottingham Panthers forward Adam Johnson died in October 2023 from a serious cut to his neck from a skate during a British…...

1+ week, 4+ day ago (149+ words) Ice hockey chiefs confirm stance on neck guards for Winter Olympics - The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has confirmed that neck guards will be compulsory for all ice hockey players at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in 2026. - This decision follows the IIHF's announcement in December 2023 to make neck guards mandatory in all its competitions, though a specific start date was not initially given. - The move comes after the death of Nottingham Panthers forward Adam Johnson in October 2023, who suffered a fatal neck injury from a skate during a British Elite League match. - While Ice Hockey UK already mandates neck guards for its national team, the British Elite League has only 'strongly encouraged' their use since Johnson's death, not making them a requirement. - North America's National Hockey League (NHL) will make neck guards compulsory for new players from the 2026-27 season but not…...

1+ mon, 1+ day ago (665+ words) With 100 days to go until the start of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, preparations are going right down to the wire. The ice hockey arena that is set to welcome back NHL players to the Olympics is still not ready and won't be tested until less than a month before the first puck is dropped at the 2026 Games. "There are some things that we are paying more attention to, monitoring them and then there are others that are absolutely completely ready," Milan-Cortina organizing committee president Giovanni Malag" told journalists outside an event to celebrate the 100-day countdown on Wednesday. "Being completely honest I would say that these 100 days are necessary, we need them but I don't think that's any different than any other big event, you always see people working even hours before the start to ensure it meets expectations." Readiness…...

1+ mon, 2+ day ago (655+ words) From scandal-hit Russian figure skaters to the thousands of officials and media who faced a daily assault on their nasal passages, the Covid-stricken Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics proved a Games many wished to forget. Throw in a grim medal haul for Great Britain " salvaged only by double curling glory in the Games" final days " and it was not difficult to regard the distant Milan-Cortina Games in 2026 as an eminently more appealing prospect. One hundred days out from a return to the pinnacle of winter sports, the prospect of more daily testing misery has gone and with it the gloom that hung over a team who " curlers excepted " were never able to reach their potential in such uniquely-difficult circumstances. Chief among those to leave the Chinese capital frustrated was Charlotte Bankes, the snowboard-cross hopeful who had swept into the Games as world…...

1+ mon, 2+ day ago (418+ words) Monday's incident at PPG Paints Arena marks the third fall at a major Pittsburgh sports venue this year A man sustained life-threatening injuries after falling from the upper seating area at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh during Monday's NHL game between the Penguins and St. Louis Blues. According to officials with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Emergency Medical Services, the yet-to-be publicly identified man fell from the 200-level concourse into the lower concourse roughly 15 minutes after the game began. The man struck another fan in a suite-level section, then continued his fall into the 100-level seating area, officials said. The falling fan was transported to the nearby Mercy Hospital with life-threatening injuries, officials told WTAE. The other person struck during the fall was evaluated by paramedics and declined further treatment. Authorities say few in attendance appeared to see the incident live,…...

1+ mon, 1+ week ago (388+ words) The 36-year-old takes over at Ibrox on a two-and-a-half-year deal Danny Rohl has been appointed Rangers head coach on a two-and-a-half-year deal. The 36-year-old had withdrawn from contention last week, when Kevin Muscat seemed poised to succeed Russell Martin earlier this month. But the former Sheffield Wednesday boss reportedly resumed talks with Rangers over the weekend and was confirmed as their new head coach on Monday afternoon. "I know it has been a difficult start to the season, but there is still so much to play for in four competitions, and my staff and I will give it everything to reward the supporters and the club." He added: "The expectations here are clear. "The fans want to see results now " my mentality and experience is to think in exactly the same way and I have belief in the players that…...

1+ mon, 1+ week ago (151+ words) A scoreboard message referencing ICE during the San Jose Sharks" Hispanic Heritage Night sparked backlash from fans and prompted an apology from the team. "Appalling" ICE message shown on scoreboard at NHL game - The San Jose Sharks hockey team apologized after a pro-ICE message was displayed on their scoreboard during an NHL game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. - The message, which read "SJ SHARKS FANS LOVE ICE !! GET "EM BOYZ !," appeared Saturday during the team's ninth annual Los Tiburones Night, a celebration of the Hispanic community. - Fans said they were shocked and appalled with some calling for stricter pre-checks on messages displayed in the arena. - The team said the message was externally submitted, inadvertently displayed and did not meet their organizational values, and they are investigating its origin. - The incident occurred against a backdrop of the Trump administration's aggressive immigration policies,…...