Guard at Winter Olympic construction site dies in freezing conditions

A guard at a construction site near a 2026 Winter Olympic venue in the mountain resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo died during a freezing overnight shift, authorities have confirmed. 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 -12C (10.4F).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. Cortina city officials said they were “deeply saddened and troubled by the death”.The Milano Cortina Winter Olympics are scheduled for 6-22 February. Cortina will host curling, sliding and women’s Alpine skiing, while some other events are held in Milan, including the bulk of the opening ceremony.That will be held at the San Siro football stadium and organisers announced on Sunday that the tenor Andrea Bocelli would be among the headline performers, joining the previously announced pop diva Mariah Carey.Reflecting the Games’ status as the most spread-out Winter Olympics, elements of the opening ceremony will be conducted in three other locations, allowing athletes from all far-flung disciplines to participate. Moments will be beamed to the televised audience from Cortina in the heart of the Dolomite mountains, Livigno in the Italian Alps and Predazzo in the autonomous province of Trento.The ceremony will also include a tribute to the late Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani, who died in September at 91.