The gathering took place a few days after work began on dismantling the historic Eugenio Monti track which hosted competition at the 1956 Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics - closed in 2008 and now in disrepair - which is to be replaced by a costly new venue.

Milan Cortina 2026 has controversially planned a new track to host bobsleigh, luge and skeleton events at the next Winter Olympics on the same site, at a cost of €80 million (£70.8 million/$85 million) - nearly double initial estimates.

With demolition having started, it is hoped that the new facility can be ready to stage test events in the 2024-2025 season.

Opponents of the project gathered in the Piazza Angelo Dibona, where public meetings were first held on the topic last summer, to protest against an initiative that they believe will be against local interests and the needs of the population, sportetsociete reports.

Under the direction of the Civic Committee of Cortina, around 400 people gathered to hear organisers claim that the management of the project was "irresponsible".

Organisers of the protest said: "There is no money for the renovation of the cinema, the swimming pool has been closed for 11 years, the cycle path is in a pitiful state, the maintenance of public buildings leaves something to be desired, the manhole covers are clogged…

"The political line of the municipal administration is clear - yes to foreign interests, no to the needs of the citizens of Cortina."

The project to create the new sliding track has been put together with an aim of preserving material elements identifiable with the historic structure which can be reused on the new equipment.

The new design will be along a route that will partly take up the historic curve, and will require seven hectares of surrounding space for landscaping.