With Olympic hockey action set to begin in less than a week, the International Olympic Committee offered reassurance Sunday that the rink is good to go.
"Absolutely certain," Christophe Dubi, the Olympic Games' executive director, said at a press conference in Milan.
Concerns over the state of the Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena percolated over recent months after construction began late. The NHL has previously expressed worry about ice quality due to construction delays, with deputy commissioner Bill Daly saying the league would not send its players if there were any safety concerns.
The IOC shared some of those worries. No longer, Dubi said.
"One thing we've been clear about for a number of days now is that we have a number of areas where you'd be very impressed. You walk into the venue, the seating bowl is dramatic — it's black, ice is ice," he said.
"Now, do we have every single space in that venue finished? No. And is it absolutely needed for the Games? No. So no one's experience is going to be tainted by anything that needs to be painted or carpeted after the Games. Let's be very clear. Anything that is public-facing, anything that is (for) media or, starting with the athletes, (is) absolute top."
The Olympic women's hockey tournament begins Thursday with four games, including Canada-Finland, slated for the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena.
Santagiulia will host its first game Friday when Czechia takes on Switzerland.
The semifinals and medal games in both the men's and women's tournaments are also set to be held at Santagiulia, with action wrapping Feb. 22.
Dubi added that the main thing still needed to prepare the arena for the Games is a major clean-up.
"A lot of cleaners, both inside the seating bowls and the venues — outside as well to make it really beautiful. So still work ongoing, frantic as you said, but it's to make it really, really a great venue," he said.
"And hats off because it started very late. So what they have pulled off in so many months — very few — is absolutely outstanding."
--with files from The Associated Press
