Cesana Pariol


Cesana Pariol was the venue for bobsled, 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

The track is constructed with about 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 to keep the track properly smooth during competitions.

History

During construction of the track prior to the 2006 games, there was concern that the track would be completed in time for homologation. A minor archaeological find during construction slowed progress until the remains were excavated.
The track was completed in late 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, Brazil's Renato Mizoguchi, and the U.S. Virgin Islands' Anne Abernathy. During the summer of 2005, discussions were held among TOROC, FIBT President Robert H. Storey, and FIL President Josef Fendt 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 Sochi Olympics, President of the CONI, Giovanni Malagò, expressed the intention to ensure new investments to keep the track open.

Statistics

The venue includes a vertical drop of 114 meters from start to finish.
Turn NumberNameReason named
1.ChamplasLocal town near the track.
2.GancioItalian for ""
3.Il MuroItalian for "The Wall". Women's singles and men's double luge have their start house after this turn.
4., 5.Italian for "Twins".
6., 7., 8.ToroItalian for "Bull". Also for the toroid or torus shape of these three turns. It is also an Omega-shaped curve.
9.CesanaThe comune where the track is located.
10.Nino Bibbia1948 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.MuseoItalian for "Museum". An archeological find was found near this turn during track construction.
12., 13.ChicaneShape of these curves.
14.ChabertonAfter the Chaberton Mountains that the inside of this curve faces.
15.LavatriceItalian for "Washing machine"
16.CompressioneItalian for "Compression". From the compressive forces put upon the body during the maneuvering of the sled through the turn.
17.Paul HildgartnerFormerly "Senza Nome". 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.PariolThe village in Cesana where the track is located.
19.Eugenio MontiSix-time Olympic medalist and 10-time bobsled World Champion medalist from 1957 to 1968.

SportRecordNation - athleteDateTime
Bobsleigh - two-manStart - Beat Hefti & Thomas Lamparter5 December 20094.72
Luge - men's singlesStartDavid Möller - 29 January 20102.457
Luge - men's singlesTrackAlbert Demtschenko - 12 February 200651.396
Luge - women's singlesStartSilke Kraushaar - 14 February 20064.320
Luge - women's singlesTrackNatalie Geisenberger - 31 January 201046.817
Luge - men's doublesStart - Tobias Wendl & Tobias Arlt29 January 20104.258
Luge - men's doublesTrack - Christian Oberstolz & Patrick Gruber30 January 201046.293
Women's skeletonTrackShelley Rudman - 4 December 200958.71

Championships hosted