Anthony's moguls venue first to be ready for Olympics

Livigno has delivered the first completed venue for the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics -- the setting where Australian Jakara Anthony will hope to successfully defend her moguls crown.

The Livigno Aerials and Moguls facility at Carosello 3000 is set to be a key venue during the Games, with 26 gold medals to be awarded in the town.

Fabio Saldini, CEO of Milano Cortina 2026 Infrastructure Company, called the ribbon-cutting on Thursday a "path forward" and praised the facility as "safe, sustainable, and cutting-edge".

Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini and other officials toured additional sites under construction, including the "Livigno Snow Park" and the Olympic Village, with preparations accelerating ahead of the "one year to go" milestone in February 2025.

"Livigno is the Olympics. We are ready to host the world," said Luca Moretti, president of Livigno Next.

"This is a town determined to prepare at its best to host the most important event. If I imagine the breathtaking sight we will see on February 6, 2026, with the Olympic venues embracing the entire community, I can't think of a better way to showcase who we are and our connection to sport and the Olympic spirit."

Anthony is set to be Australia's biggest hope for gold at the Games after her triumph in Beijing in 2022 and her subsequent dominance of the moguls.

The World Cup champion in both moguls and dual moguls has started off this season with a victory in the second event at Idre Fjall, Sweden.