CORTINA D'AMPEZZO—Dismissing frantic concerns from the International Olympic Committee regarding the structural integrity of a venue consisting largely of three steel beams and a pile of gravel, Italian construction foreman Alessandro Ricci announced Tuesday that the Olympic ice rink would be completed “subito” just as soon as he finishes his cigarette. “My friend, why the big face? The ice, she is coming, relax, have an espresso,” said Ricci, leaning against a silent bulldozer while gesturing vaguely toward a half-poured foundation that is scheduled to host the Men’s Figure Skating finals in 26 days. “You Americans and your ‘deadlines.’ In Italy, we build with passion, not calendars. Maybe we finish the roof, maybe we don’t. The stars look beautiful at night, no? It adds drama to the curling.” At press time, the organizing committee had released a revised schedule asking the Canadian hockey team to please bring their own garden hoses and wait for a cold snap if they wanted a surface to play on.