When the original bid for the 2026 Olympic Games was first launched by northern Italy, the venue plan included a major renovation of an abandoned track at Cesana Pariol, which was built for the Torino 2006 Olympic Games.
According to Wikipedia, it was in much better condition than The Cortina Sliding Centre, also known as the Eugenio Monti Sliding Centre, in the alpine village of Cortina d’Ampezzo in Veneto, Italy, which had not been renovated since 1981 and had been abandoned completely in 2008.
By the time the bid was finalized, however, it included a loose plan to renovate the abandoned track in Cortina. It was later determined that if the organizing committee wanted to host sliding events (bobsleigh, skeleton, luge) in Italy, an entirely new venue would need to be constructed – not renovated.
Wikipedia explains that demolition of the old track in Cortina began in March 2023. Despite political concerns stemming from future legacy and sustainability of the venue, issues finding a contractor willing to build the venue, and even the International Olympic Committee calling for the sliding events to be staged on an existing track outside of Italy, construction of the new and improved venue on the original site began in February 2024.
In just 13 months, the track was ready for pre-homologation (pre-approval), which took place in March 2025 and the track and its facilities were completed and ready to open in November 2025.
Most long-term relationships eventually reach a place where renovation feels tempting. A few tweaks. A slightly different tone. A new agreement layered onto an old pattern. Sometimes that works. And sometimes it just doesn’t. Sometimes it becomes clear that the underlying structure cannot carry the weight of who the people involved have become. New construction is needed.
When that realization surfaces, the question becomes whether the ground itself still holds value.
Is there shared history that still matters?
Is there a foundation of respect and commitment that remains steady?
Is the “location” worth the investment of starting again?
Rebuilding within a relationship asks for a lot of discernment. It requires humility to admit that a previous way of communicating, dividing responsibilities, handling conflict, or showing care does not meet the standards of the current season. It also requires some courage to stay and construct something new rather than abandon the site altogether.
The Cortina track passed pre-approval in thirteen months because the builders were working toward clear standards set by International sliding events and those standards demanded precision.
Relationships benefit from clarity as well.
When two people can articulate what healthy looks like for them now – how they want to speak, how they want to repair, how they want to support – the rebuilding process gains direction.
If you find yourself in a relationship that feels strained, you might consider asking:
• What part of this dynamic feels structurally unsound?
• What standards have changed for me over time?
• Is the foundation still solid enough to build on?
• What would rebuilding require from both of us?
I can’t wait to hear about what you’re thinking of rebuilding. And if you want help discerning whether the ground is worth it, I’m here.
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