USA Luge marketing director Gordy Sheer said the aim at the start of the project was to construct a world-class starting facility, which could be used by all ages and people of differing skill levels.

Sheer explained that the project had begun four years ago, with construction beginning in 2019.

The construction was completed after nine months.

The new facility has two start ramps, which are located next to each other and are each about 50 metres long.

Athletes can use both ramps in either direction, so four different starting positions can be simulated.

Sheer said the previous starting facility, constructed in 1991, had functioned well and enabled athletes and the national governing body to be successful.

However, it was considered to lack space for athletes and workshops, while athletes were unable to settle onto their sled when practicing their start.

"What the new facility does is allow athletes to pull, paddle and lay down in their sled," Sheer said.

"That has been a very big benefit that we have already seen with our development athletes."

The project had received $5 million (£4 million/€4.6 million) in funding from the state of New York.

The money was awarded to the Olympic Regional Development Authority, which oversees the use of Olympic facilities in Lake Placid.

The authority managed the construction of the starting facility, which includes workshops and offices.