Overview
- Authorities confirmed the 55-year-old died during a Thursday overnight shift at a site adjacent to Cortina’s ice arena.
- Organizers said the official cause was a heart attack, while Italian reports noted temperatures around −12°C (10.4°F) overnight.
- Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026 CEO Andrea Varnier said site documentation was in order and that an investigation is underway.
- Italy’s infrastructure minister Matteo Salvini called for a full investigation, and state infrastructure firm Simico said the site was not under its oversight.
- Scrutiny of the Santagiulia arena has intensified after a Jan. 9 test event was delayed by a hole in the ice, with the first Olympic game scheduled for Feb. 5.