By The Canadian Press

Guard at Winter Olympic construction site dies in nighttime sub-freezing temperatures

Jan 11, 2026 | 10:23 AM

MILAN (AP) — A guard at a construction site near a 2026 Winter Olympic venue in the mountain resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo died during a frigid overnight shift, authorities confirmed on Saturday.

Italy’s Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini called for a full investigation into the circumstances of the 55-year-old worker’s death.

Italian media reported that the death occurred on Thursday while the worker was on duty at a construction site near Cortina’s ice arena. Temperatures that night plunged to minus 12 degrees Celsius (10.4 degrees Fahrenheit.)

The Milan Cortina Winter Olympics are scheduled for Feb. 6-22.

The construction site was not one overseen by Simico, the governmental company responsible for Olympic infrastructure, the company said in a statement expressing its condolences.

Water levels

Normal spring runoff predicted despite recent snowfall

41m ago

Responsive measures

Some Sask. farmers to get winter elk hunting permits next year to protect land

3h ago

Death of an inmate

Murderer Jason McKay dies while in custody at Sask. Penitentiary

3h ago

Cortina city officials said they were “deeply saddened and troubled by the death.’’

Cortina will host curling, sliding and women’s Alpine skiing.

The Associated Press