Cesana Pariol

Did You Know?

• The track was constructed with about 54 miles of ammonia refrigeration pipes.
• Numerous sensors along the track kept ice thickness between 5 and 10 cm.

History

During construction before the 2006 Games, a small part of Roman ruins was discovered near what became Turn 11, slowing progress until the remains were excavated. The track was completed at the end of 2004. In January 2005, the FIBT and FIL held their homologation events. The FIBT ran its events on 21–23 January 2005 without issue. The following week, the FIL ran its events and several crashes occurred, including injuries to 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 summer 2005, discussions among TOROC, FIBT President Robert H. Storey, and FIL President Josef Fendt led to an agreement to modify turns 16 through 18 for safety. The modifications were completed in late 2005. Test runs by Italy's Armin Zöggeler in late October 2005 preceded homologation on 31 October 2005, after approval by former German national team coach Josef Lenz and FIL track commission chair Klaus Bonsack. Cesana Pariol is part of the Torino Olympic Park complex. Post-Olympic usage included public bobsleigh and luge rides. In October 2009, early refrigeration problems led the Bob- und Schlittenverband für Deutschland to lend auxiliary services; Italy and Japan trained at Winterberg, and Austria at Königssee. The track was scheduled to host events in 2011–12 but shut down due to economic costs. After pressure from FIBT and FIL in early 2012, it was scheduled to run in 2012–13 but shut down again. In October 2012, Cesana officials ordered the track dismantled; 45 tons of ammonia from its refrigeration were moved for other uses in the Turin region.