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The highly anticipated Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Games hit an unexpected hurdle when the competition opened on Wednesday.
A brief power delay disrupted the inaugural curling competitions after lights flickered inside the historic stadium. Several curlers became loose as they continued to slide on the ice during the delay.
The return of the bright lights drew applause from the crowd. Authorities said they were investigating the cause, although no details were immediately available.
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Yeongseok Jeong of South Korea sweeps a stone during the mixed doubles round-robin phase of the curling competition against Sweden at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Feb. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
Curling in Cortina (eight teams in mixed doubles) began two days before the opening ceremony of this year’s Winter Games.
American curler Korey Dropkin said he had been waiting for this moment for a long time.
“Being among the best is a very nice atmosphere to be a part of,” said Dropkin, a first-time Olympian who will begin competition Thursday. “We hope to be ready to compete and pour our hearts out on the ice.”
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The opening night at this hill station was just the first of the mixed doubles curling round-robin matches, where teams consisting of one woman and one man face off.
Sweden’s Rasmus and Isabella Wranaa compete during a mixed doubles curling session against South Korea at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Feb. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
The fans arrived in Cortina in anticipation of the first games. They cheered, rang bells and sang for their countries and their favorite players when their teams scored or there was a break in the action.
Some in the crowd held large flags of the Czech Republic, whose team was competing against Canada. Canadian fans carried waving red flags in hand.
Preparations for the first curling competition are underway at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, on February 4, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Italian duo Stefania Constantini, who is from Cortina, and Amos Mosaner are the defending world and Olympic champions in mixed doubles.
