Questions like “will getting a pet benefit our child’s mental health?” are increasingly common and pertinent. In Spain, for instance, more than half of all households now have one or more pets.
Attachment is the name for the emotional bond between a developing child and the caregiver who provides them with security and comfort. This kind of bond can also, to a certain extent, also be formed with animals, and these relationships have been shown to have a range of beneficial effects:
They boost emotional regulation, helping children learn to calm themselves
They build responsibility, empathy and moral standards
They “catalyse” relationships with people, for instance when a pet forms a point of common interest between a child and a family member they don’t know so well
They support prosocial behaviour
They help build understanding of nonverbal communication
They can function as a comfort object, taking the place of the child’s primary attachment when that person is not present.
But beyond these benefits, how does living alongside an animal impact children’s mental health? We can answer this question by looking at issues categorised as either internalising (such as depression, anxiety and their related physical symptoms) and externalising (a child’s behaviour and relationship with their environment: agression, rulebreaking, and so on).
The INMA study
We analysed data provided by the INMA Project (Infancia y Medio Ambiente, Children and Environment). This was a cohort study, meaning it involved periodic monitoring of a group of participants – in this case, from pregnancy to 6-7 years of age – through questionnaires, environmental measurements and clinical tests.
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Our work included around 1,900 households in Spain, located in Asturias, Gipuzkoa (Basque Country), Sabadell (Barcelona) and Valencia. Of these, 52.3% had or had had one or more pets. 19.1% lived or had lived with dogs, 8.7% with cats, 14.8% with birds, and 28.6% with other animals such as hamsters, rabbits, turtles or fish.
When we evaluated the relationship between the presence of animals and mental health, we observed that children who had never had a pet showed the most positive scores. Some trends, although they cannot be considered significant, showed slightly more negative results among children who had always lived with pets. Those who had only had pets intermittently had higher risks of experiencing problems, though this pattern was only significant for cats.
To account for other factors that might influence this relationship, we performed additional analyses to adjust the results according to social class, sex, age, cohort, and so on. We found no difference between those who had never lived with animals and those who had had them always or only intermittently. This applied to the variable that studied any type of pet, as well as the specific ones that evaluated the relationship with dogs and birds.
The most interesting finding was that having a cat at age 4-5 was associated with more mental health problems (Getty/iStock)
The most interesting finding was that having a cat at age 4-5 was associated with more mental health problems. Having other animals – such as hamsters, rabbits, turtles or fish – consistently throughout early childhood seemed to have a protective effect on boys and girls alike.
Unpacking our findings
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In the early years of life, emotional bonds may not be fully formed. Therefore, the presence of dogs or birds may not have a major effect on mental health. It is also possible that variables not included in our study may have influenced the results.
In the case of cats, their way of interacting with people could explain the effects observed. They are more independent, which limits emotional bonding, and some families may choose this animal as a pet because their children have emotional needs of their own.
In addition, toxoplasmosis is more common in cats than in other animals. This infection – caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii which can be transmitted to humans – is linked to behavioural problems, as well as serious mental disorders such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
About the authors
Llúcia González Safont is an Investigadora del Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP) y miembro de la Unidad Mixta de Investigación en Epidemiología, Ambiente y Salud FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I -Universitat de València, Fisabio. Blanca Sarzo Carles is an Investigador postdoctoral. Bioestadística, Fisabio. Marisa Estarlich Estarlich is a Profesora contratada doctor, Universitat de València. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Having fish, turtles and hamsters on a constant basis does seem to protect children from mental health problems. These pets demand stable and easy contact, and help kids to learn responsibility, empathy and self-control.
Constant bonds are better
Our study did not clearly associate the presence of some pets, such as dogs and birds, with benefits or harm to childrens’ mental health. This could be because our work focused on exposure to pets in very early life – further studies focusing on older children are required.
In addition, children who lived with animals such as hamsters, rabbits, fish or turtles on a regular basis achieved better results than those who only had them intermittently. This suggests that a continuous link may be more beneficial than sporadic exposure.
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While living with a pet can promote responsibility, empathy and emotional self-regulation, its real impact depends on factors such as the nature of the bond, age and style of upbringing.
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An Irishman who has been detained by ICE for five months has described the facilities as “like a modern-day concentration camp”.
Seamus Culleton said he would like Irish premier Micheal Martin to raise his case with US President Donald Trump during his meeting at the White House in March.
Mr Culleton, who is originally from Co Kilkenny, has been living in the US for nearly 20 years and is married to a US citizen.
He was detained by ICE (US Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents in September 2025 while driving home after finishing work, describing how several cars appeared around him.
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He was asked if he had a green card, and he said he did not, but said he was married to a US citizen, had a work permit and was due to receive his green card.
However, he was detained and initially put into a holding cell in Massachusetts, before being taken to New York, and then to the detention centre in El Paso in Texas.
Image: Pic: Facebook/Seamus Culleton
Mr Culleton claims ICE agents tried to get him to sign deportation papers, which he refused to do.
He described the detention centre in El Paso as “horrible” and “filthy”, with little sanitation, limited food and where it was “tough to stay positive”.
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He said he was in fear of his life from the security firm in charge, who he said were “capable of anything”, and there was competition for food, and he had “definitely” lost weight.
The Irishman said there were 72 people in a tent the size of a 16ft by 35ft room with no ceiling, with two rows of bunk beds on either side and a long table down the middle.
Illnesses are rife among detainees, he said, with barely any outside time, fresh air or sunlight.
Mr Culleton added: “It’s just torture. I don’t know how much more I can take.
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“I just want to get back to my wife. We’re so desperate to start a family.”
Mr Culleton said his mother is heartbroken about his situation, though he can talk with her most days.
His wife described the shock of his original detention and the “awful” experience of trying to maintain contact with him after his detainment.
Image: Ireland’s Taoiseach Micheal Martin has been urged to raise the issue when he meets Donald Trump in March. Pic: Reuters
She said she did not hear from him for almost a week after an initial phone call following his arrest and said she “did not know if he was deported” and “had no idea if he was safe”.
She added it was “almost impossible” to set up a visit to see her husband.
She had booked flights from Massachusetts to Texas to attend one of Mr Culleton’s court dates, but the hearing was moved on the day before her journey.
“He’s a good man. I don’t think anyone deserves this, but Seamus definitely doesn’t deserve this,” she said.
Earlier, Mr Culleton’s sister, Caroline, said his family still does not know why he was detained.
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She said he has lost an “awful lot of weight”, has sores, infections and hair loss.
In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said: “Minister McEntee is aware of this case and of the consular assistance being provided to the citizen involved, and his family, by our Consulate General in Austin, Texas, and our consular unit in Dublin.
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“Our embassy in Washington DC is also engaging directly with the Department of Homeland Security at a senior level in relation to this case.”
It comes after Molly-Mae announced she is six months pregnant with her second child
Molly-Mae Hague was left ‘in tears’ as she enjoyed a night out in Manchester with her sister, Zoe, after announcing she is six months pregnant with her second child.
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The 26-year-old influencer and her boxer partner Tommy Fury, also 26, have announced they are expecting their second child together, just nine months after they reconciled following a brief split, which they announced in August 2024.
The couple – who already have daughter Bambi, three, together – took to Instagram last Thursday (February 5) to share a video where she debuted her baby bump. In the sweet clip, Bambi – who can be seen wearing a ‘big sister’ jumper – said: “I’m going to be a big sister”.
Molly-Mae, who has since confirmed she’s already six months pregnant, and Tommy, who met on Love Island in 2019, captioned the video: “Soon to be four,” and were quickly flooded with congratulatory messages.
But away from any baby updates, Molly-Mae was seen documenting an evening out with her sister as they headed to the Albert Hall in Manchester to watch Mumford & Sons.
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Alongside a picture of the band – made up of Marcus Mumford, Ted Dwane, and Ben Lovett – on stage, she wrote to her millions of followers on her Instagram Story: “Tonight,” before adding a string of crying face emojis.
She then posted a picture of her and Zoe with the trio, to which Molly-Mae admitted: “Life… made [heart emoji] @mumfordandsons.” In a further update, the mum-of-two-to-be shared a video from the gig and said: “My mum got me these tickets for Christmas [crying face emoji]. Anyone that knows me knows how much I love @mumfordandsons.”
After her pregnancy announcement last week, Molly-Mae confirmed that she is already six months pregnant. Resharing her announcement video to her Instagram Story, the mum-of-two-to-be said: “Nearly 6 months on… and it still hasn’t sunk in [crying face emoji and love heart].”
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She also shared a video of her posing in the mirror as she sported a black figure-hugging top that accentuated her blossoming baby bump. Tommy then joined her in the video and she giggled as he felt her stomach before bending down to kiss her bump. “The weekend just gone,” she captioned the clip with a string of emojis that suggested she was feeling emotional.
She also said she was the “luckiest” to be expecting again and revealed that she didn’t know she was pregnant when she hit the runway at L’Oreal’s Paris Fashion Week show. “Little baby with me in this moment… and I didn’t even know [single tear crying emoji].”
In a race against time, viewers often witness an investigation from start to finish as detectives uncover horrific truths. Over the years, the show has been branded as the “best ever”, as viewers count down to another instalment every week.
Tonight (February 10), Channel 4 viewers will witness another episode of 24 Hours in Police Custody, which is set to air at 9pm on the channel. However, it will be another repeat that viewers previously branded as a tough watch.
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Titled 24 Hours in Police Custody: Horror House, tonight’s instalment will be the first part of a harrowing investigation into a “disturbing” pursuit.
Channel 4 teases: “24 Hours in Police Custody. The Horror House (Part 1/2): A lone detective is on the trail of a Luton man who sexually abused scores of young people in what becomes a complex, disturbing pursuit.”
Part two of the special documentary will air next week, but viewers should be aware of a scheduling change. Instead of Tuesday evening, part 2 of the Horror House will air on Monday, February 16 at 9pm on Channel 4.
Episodes of 24 Hours in Police Custody can also be streamed for free on Channel 4 online.
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The harrowing instalment has been dubbed a “tough” watch. Previously taking to social media, one person wrote: “Catching up on last night’s #24hoursinpolicecustody, the horror house part 2, and it’s so shocking, the worst I have seen!”
Another said: “Horror House….already gripped. #24hoursinpolicecustody.” A third added: “#24hoursinpolicecustody – Horror house. Incredibly tough watch!”
Over on TikTok, the two-part special has been dubbed a harrowing instalment as one person wrote: “Honestly, the first episode was horrible, to then see even more people come forward.”
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Another described it in a video as a “distressing” watch, admitting they were “in tears”. One person replied: “Extremely hard watch”, as another echoed: “One of the worst episodes.”
Another said they “had to turn it off, it was too traumatic.”
24 Hours in Police Custody: Horror House part 1 airs tonight on Channel 4 at 9pm.
A major A-road will be closed overnight for a month to replace LED lighting. National Highways is carrying out work on the A11 between Babraham and Red Lodge.
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The work began on February 5, and is set to last until Wednesday, March 4. For the work to take place, this section of road will be closed from 8pm until 6am the following morning.
A National Highways spokesperson said: “We’ll need to close sections of the A11 Babraham (Fourwentways Interchange) to Red Lodge (Snetterton Interchange). We’ll be working over four weeks starting Thursday, February 5, 2026 from 8pm to 6am weather permitting. This work will also involve some weekend closures.”
In February 2022, National Highways began its five year £132 million programme to retrofit 70% of road lights from traditional incandescent bulbs to greener and more efficient LED bulbs. This work is set to be completed by March 2027.
These sections of road will be closed on the following dates, with some diversions:
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Wednesday, February 11, Thursday, February 12 and Friday, February 13 – A11 Fiveways Roundabout lane one closure. No diversions.
Saturday, February 14 – Fiveways Roundabout will have two-way temporary traffic lights on A1101 road. No diversions.
Sunday, February 15 and Monday, February 16 – London Road roundabout lane one closed. No diversions.
Tuesday, February 17 – London Road roundabout lane two closed. No diversions.
Wednesday, February 18 – Brandon Road roundabout lane one closed. No diversions.
Friday, February 20 – Brandon Road roundabout lane one closed. No diversions.
Saturday, February 21 and Sunday, February 22 – Thetford Road roundabout lane two closed. No diversions.
Thursday, March 3 – A11 Kennett Interchange northbound exit slip road closed. Diversions will be in place. Drivers will need to: continue north and exit at the A11 onto Elms Road (B1085); take the third exit at the roundabout; at the next roundabout take the second exit onto Newmarket Road and continue down Turnpike Road and re-join the A11.
Thursday, March 3 – A11 Kennett Interchange southbound entry slip road closed. Diversions will be in place. Drivers will need to: drivers will be diverted onto Turnpike Road (B1085); continue onto Newmarket Road and join the A11 southbound at Red Lodge Interchange.
National Highways warns closures can change at short notice.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A top Iranian security official traveled Tuesday to Oman, the Mideast sultanate now mediating talks between Tehran and the United States over the Islamic Republic’ nuclear program aimed at halting a possible American strike.
Ali Larijani, a former Iranian parliament speaker who now serves as the secretary to the country’s Supreme National Security Council, likely will carry Iran’s response to the initial round of indirect talks held last week in Muscat with the Americans.
Larijani is due to meet with Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, the chief intermediary in the talks, and Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, the state-run IRNA news agency reported. IRNA described the talks as “important,” without elaborating on what message Larijani will carry. It said he flew out of Tehran for Muscat on Tuesday morning.
Iran and the U.S. held new nuclear talks last week in Oman. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking Sunday to diplomats at a summit in Tehran, signaled that Iran would stick to its position that it must be able to enrich uranium — a major point of contention with U.S. President Donald Trump, who bombed Iranian atomic sites in June during the 12-day Iran-Israel war. That war disrupted earlier rounds of nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is to travel to Washington this week, with Iran expected to be the major subject of discussion, his office said.
The U.S. has moved the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, ships and warplanes to the Middle East to pressure Iran into an agreement and have the firepower necessary to strike the Islamic Republic should Trump choose to do so. Already, U.S. forces shot down a drone they said got too close to the Lincoln and came to the aid of a U.S.-flagged ship that Iranian forces tried to stop in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf.
The U.S. Transportation Department’s Maritime Administration issued a new warning Monday to American vessels in the strait to “remain as far as possible from Iran’s territorial sea without compromising navigational safety.” The strait, through which a fifth of all oil traded passes, is in Iranian and Omani territorial waters. Those traveling into the Persian Gulf must pass through Iranian waters.
The BBC Radio 6 Music Festival will run from Wednesday, March 25, to Saturday, March 28, and take place in local venues including Band on the Wall, YES and, for the first time – the Eccles Town Hall Ballroom.
The four-day event will bring a mix of established names and rising talent to the city region.
Bloc Party, Courtney Barnett, The Horrors, Yard Act, Kelly Lee Owens, Lynks and Wesley Joseph are among the artists set to perform, alongside a host of DJ sets from the likes of Beth Ditto, Nick Grimshaw, Steve Lamacq and Lambrini Girls.
Samantha Moy, Head of BBC Radio 6 Music, said the shift towards smaller venues reflects the station’s commitment to supporting the foundations of the UK’s music scene.
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She said: “Independent grassroots venues are vital to the UK’s music ecosystem and at 6 Music, we’re proud to support what they do.
“So, it makes sense for the next evolution of the 6 Music Festival to take place in these special spaces.”
BBC 6 Radio Music Festival line-up (Image: BBC Radio 6)
Nick Grimshaw, who will appear both on air and at the Indie Forever club night, added that such venues remain “vital for culture and a space where artists are given the freedom to take risks, grow and truly flourish. I can’t wait!”
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham welcomed the festival’s return and he praised its focus on the region’s independent spirit.
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He said: “Greater Manchester’s music scene has always been driven by its grassroots venues and independent spirit.
“They’re vital to nurturing new talent and keeping our cultural life vibrant.
“It’s fantastic to see the BBC Radio 6 Music Festival celebrating those spaces and shining a spotlight on the creativity that continues to flourish right across our city region.”
6 MUSIC FESTIVAL 2026 LINEUP
Weds 25th March – BBC Introducing
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TTSSFU + Pyncher + Ellen Beth Adbi at Band on the Wall from 7pm
Thursday 26th March
Kelly Lee Owens (DJ set) + Wesley Joseph at Band on the Wall from 7pm
Mandy, Indiana + SILVERWINGKILLER at YES from 7pm
Friday 27th March
Bloc Party + The Horrors at Band on the Wall from 7pm
Yard Act + Sorry at YES from 7pm
Indie Forever club night with Steve Lamacq, Beth Ditto + Nick Grimshaw, Emily Pilbeam + Nathan Shepherd, and Lambrini Girls at YES from midnight
Saturday 28th March
Courtney Barnett + Jacob Alon at Band on the Wall from 7pm
Lynks + Tiberius b at YES from 7pm
6 Music Festival and FaT OuTpresent Lauren Auder, Naima Bock and R.AGGS at Eccles Town Hall Ballroom from 3pm
Homobloc presents 6 Music’s Festival’s Closing Party with Olof Dreijer at YES from 11.30pm
Tickets to each event are sold separately and will be available from www.bbc.co.uk/6musicfestival at 10am on Thursday, February 12
A woman couldn’t believe her eyes after reading her dog’s DNA test results – as she explains how she adopted him as a beagle whippet mix when he was just six-month-old
Yet as the years passed, she always had a hunch he was mixed with something different – but never got around to DNA testing him until recently. She posted on Reddit: “I was told ‘Beagle mix’ or ‘Whippet’ back when I adopted him at six months. But he’s 18 now and has been the best pup ever, so I just needed to know what he was.”
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Following sharing snaps of the senior dog, users joked about how he resembles “Ed from The Lion King,” whilst others likened him to a “Chupacabra.”
The owner responded: “Definitely. Actually, his right ‘elbow’ was broken when animal control found him.
“Luckily, a rescue got him, and he had surgery to fuse the joint, so from a very young age he’s had a limp, which has affected how he developed. Not how fast he was. Damn, he could run! Still tries if he smells McDonald’s.”
She was flabbergasted when examining Elliot’s DNA findings, which showed him to be 42.1% Miniature Pinscher, 36.9% Small Poodle, 13.1% American Eskimo Dog, and 7.9% Supermutt.
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Reacting to this revelation, one user commented: “So glad you decided to do this! I just tested my 14-year-old girl – I didn’t think I could stand it not knowing. Best decision ever!
“The German Shepherd was pretty obvious, but I expected a lot more Pit Bull considering I got him from the shelter.
“I was really curious because he has these golden eyes, and I was like, ‘Where on earth did that come from! ?’”.
“I don’t really see a lot of Dutch Shepherds around here, so that was pretty surprising!”.
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“I’m thinking he might have been semi-intentionally bred and dumped on the res, because he definitely seems to have some abandonment issues.”
Another person commented: “My boy is starting to get older, and I was like, I’m gonna regret it forever if I don’t get this done. And it was more interesting than I thought!”.
A third said: “18 years! ! Amazing. What a sweet-looking dog – I just love the little triangle-shaped head as a puppy!”.
Someone else wrote: “Aww, sweet ole boy. My Mini Pin mix loved to run. Fast as he could go, always full tilt – clocked him off the bike at 17 mph, not bad for 15 lbs. It is said they used Italian Greyhound in them when making the breed.
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“18 is a really good, long life. Hope he has a few more in him – make him a record breaker.”
A final commenter added: “Elliot looks like a grandfather. I love him so much.”
Monday night saw Wuthering Heights premiering on Rotten Tomatoes with a critical score of 71%, indicating pretty positive reviews overall.
The bad news? Well, the more negative responses have really gone in, with one and two stars in The Independent, The Guardian and The Times, respectively.
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Here’s a selection of what critics have had to say about Wuthering Heights so far, starting with some of the more glowing reviews…
“Fennell channels something essential in the book – the corrosive behaviour that can result from thwarted desire. Jealousy, anger and vengeance are as natural to Cathy and Heathcliff as their endless passion for each other. If you embrace the film’s audacious style and think of it as a reinvention not an adaptation, this bold, artful Wuthering Heights is utterly absorbing.”
“Literary purists may object, but Fennell seizes on something passionate in the material that was always there but never made explicit, amplifying what has gone largely unrequited all these years: the physical desire, of course, but also the mind games by which power shifts between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff […] Fennell’s take is bold and engaging, which are qualities sure to inspire budding young readers, though the Saltburn director has her way with the iconic characters, as anyone might expect such a flashy director to do.”
“Emerald Fennell’s unabashedly horny adaptation of the Emily Brontë classic is best approached on its own terms – not in comparison with William Wyler’s 1939 film, in which [Merle] Oberon co-starred with Laurence Olivier as Heathcliff, and even less so with the brooding gothic source material. This is not your Penguin Classics school curriculum edition.”
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“Style over substance? Not at all – it’s more that Fennell understands that style can be substance when you do it right. Cathy and Heathcliff’s passions vibrate through their dress, their surroundings, and everything else within reach, and you leave the cinema quivering on their own private frequency.”
“Jacob Elordi’s Heathcliff is more of a sad-eyed puppy with a slightly dodgy Yorkshire accent than a half-crazed wolf. Margot Robbie, being 35, fails to entirely sell the idea of being a stroppy, sexually naive 17-year-old ingenue. But on the flipside – boy, do they have chemistry. Yes, we get yearning, but we also get filth.”
“Robbie is unafraid of playing up Cathy’s brattiness and selfishness, while Elordi – with his spot-on regional accent – has a combustible magnetism that bristles throughout the film. His temper and her jealousy are too hot, too greedy, as Kate Bush might say, and the same applies to the spicy sex scenes that are much edgier than your standard Victorian lit adaptation.
“Those are among many liberties taken by Fennell, but like some of the costume and production design choices that kick in once Cathy is ensconced in her new life, they feel like intuitive and intentional decisions.”
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“With flair and bombast to spare, Fennell reaches such great Heights that this feels like the first must-see movie of 2026, an enthralling retelling of an all-time love story through an accessibly modern lens.”
“Fennell throws everything at this fever-dream adaptation, which massages the senses while showcasing Elordi’s ever-growing star power. If only its electrically erotic energy was sustained to the end.”
“Clocking in at over two hours, there’s no lack of dazzling design and insane ideas to keep every minute of Fennell’s feature thrilling to watch. As with all of Fennell’s films, boredom is never on offer. And yet, that doesn’t entirely dissipate the feeling that something is still missing here.”
“Wuthering Heights is Fennell’s dumbest movie, and I say that with all admiration, because it also happens to be her best to date. Fennell has an incredible talent for the moment, for extravagant scenes that bypass all higher thought functions to spark a deeper lizard-brained pleasure, and for pop-music-scored montages of such lushness that they could levitate you right out of your seat.”
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“With a chemistry-free central romance between the bizarrely uninteresting Heathcliff and Cathy, this film self-deflates.”
“Too hot, too greedy adaptation guarantees bad dreams in the night […] Emerald Fennell’s take on Emily Brontë is an emotionally hollow, bodice-ripping misfire that misuses Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi but makes the most of Martin Clunes.”
“Emerald Fennell’s astonishingly bad adaptation is like a limp Mills & Boon […] Robbie and Elordi don’t entirely lack chemistry, but their characters do feel so thinned out that their performances are pushed almost to the border of pantomime. She’s wilful and spiky. He’s rough but gentle. That’s about it.”
“What good is creating such a beautiful world if it’s so vacant? There is nothing that resonates below the surface here; this is a half-remembered story dressed in a beautiful gown that seems destined for TikTok fan edits and Pinterest mood boards rather than soul-stirring emotional catharsis. We are guided by the hand, instructed on how to feel at every moment, and trusted with nothing.”
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Wuthering Heights is in cinemas from Friday 13 February. Watch the trailer below:
It all starts with five centimetres of insulation laid down on the concrete floor. A vapour barrier is placed on top of the insulation, before engineers lay mats containing glycol on top to keep the ice cold.
Boards and glass walls are then placed around the rink and then roughly two inches of water is added above the mat – this is when the ice sheets are created.
The surface is painted white and sealed, with ice hockey markings and logos added.
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Finally, the rink is topped with three to four centimetres of water to create the playing field. Temperatures are kept between -5 and -4C.
Resurfacing machines, colloquially known as Zambonis, are sent out regularly to shave away ice and form a new smooth layer.
Ice master Mark Messer, who is overseeing the long track speed skating said the hardest part is “working with a new system for such a high profile event, with little time for preparation”.
He added that although ice has been made on temporary settings, it has not been done on this scale for an Olympic Games.
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Milan-Cortina will be the first time a temporary venue has been used for long track speed skating at a Winters.
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