Construction at the Santa Giulia Arena in Milan, the planned venue for ice hockey at the upcoming Winter Olympics, remained unfinished less than a month before the Games are scheduled to begin. The arena, which hosted a test event on its ice hockey rink last weekend, still had two levels closed to spectators, rows of seats covered in black plastic, paint-splattered floors, construction dust, exposed wires, and missing digital scoreboards, according to reports from the site.

The tight timeline contrasts sharply with previous Winter Olympics. Organizers in China and South Korea held test matches on their rinks a full year in advance of the Games. In Milan, the first hockey players took to the ice just 28 days before the opening ceremony. "This one was a bit tight," said Art Sutherland of the International Olympic Committee.

The delays raise concerns about the readiness of the venue for the Winter Olympics, which are set to begin early next month. The Santa Giulia Arena is slated to host one of the Games' premier events, ice hockey. The unfinished state of the arena has prompted questions about whether it will be fully completed and operational in time for the competition.

The construction delays highlight the challenges of completing large-scale infrastructure projects under tight deadlines, particularly when coordinating multiple contractors and managing logistical complexities. The situation also underscores the pressure on organizers to deliver a seamless and successful Olympic Games, even when faced with unforeseen obstacles.

As of this week, workers are continuing to work to complete the arena. Organizers are hopeful that the remaining work will be finished in time for the start of the Winter Olympics. The coming weeks will be critical in determining whether the Santa Giulia Arena will be ready to host ice hockey as planned.