Christophe Dubi has played down concerns over the location of the Beijing 2022 Sliding Centre ©ITG

International Olympic Committee (IOC) executive director of the Olympic Games Christophe Dubi has played down concerns over the location of the Beijing 2022 Sliding Centre, claiming the need for more "technical details" is the reason behind the delay in selecting a confirmed site for the venue.

Dubi refused to speculate on whether the facility could be moved after question marks were raised during the IOC Coordination Commission visit here, mostly by International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) President Ivo Ferriani.

insidethegames understands the Italian, who became an IOC member at the Session ahead of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, is concerned that the sun faces the current proposed site for bobsleigh, luge and skeleton at the 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The venue is due to be constructed in the Yanqing zone, located around 90 kilometres from Beijing, with Alpine skiing the only other sport scheduled to be held there.

Ferriani conducted a flying visit to the area along with International Luge Federation (FIL) counterpart Josef Fendt in July.

An exact proposal is in place but has not yet been set in stone, Dubi confirmed, with discussions over technical issues as well as the legacy it would provide for the sport and for the Yanqing region still ongoing.

Dubi stressed the required information would be provided by organisers to the IBSF and the FIL "as soon as possible".

The Sliding Centre is due to be located in the Yanqing cluster of venues ©Beijing 2022
The Sliding Centre is due to be located in the Yanqing cluster of venues ©Beijing 2022

"There were a number of discussions and several questions raised by President Ferriani," he said.

"There has been very good collaboration between the two important Federations - IBSF and FIL.

"They have sent experts recently to look at various proposals.

"There is now a proposal for the exact location of the venue but at that point in time it means much more technical details have to be studied by the Federations in order to confirm the location.

"This information will be supplied as soon as possible.

"Equally important is plans for legacy of the facility and for the Yanqing region.

"No speculation [on if it could be moved] at this point in time.

"We will follow the plan I have just described here - more technical details and providing legacy information in order for the parties to make their call."

IOC vice-president Juan Antonio Samaranch, leading the press conference in the absence of Coordination Commission chair Alexander Zhukov, who left on the first day of the visit in order to attend a meeting with Vladimir Putin, praised organisers for their work so far.

He said Beijing 2022’s "initial preparations were well on track" while heralding the "impressive" venues in the Organising Committee’s plan.

"They delivered in 2008 and they can do so again," Samaranch added.