The organisers of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics defended the size of the ice rinks after some criticism from hockey officials and North American media.
The Santa Giulia arena will host many matches from February 6 to 22. Some people claimed the rink is smaller than what NHL players are used to. But the organisers said the size is approved and safe.
They explained the rink will measure 60 metres by 26 metres, which is approved by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). The same size was used at the Beijing 2022 Olympics.
All involved groups — including the IIHF, Olympic committee, NHL and NHL player union — agreed that these differences will not affect the safety or quality of the matches. NHL players are returning to the Olympics for the first time since 2014.
The Santa Giulia arena is expected to open next month and will host seven Italian league and cup matches from January 9 to 11 as a test.
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