"After years of preparation and planning, the Winter Olympics are getting underway Wednesday with the first curling matches in Cortina. Curling at the historic curling stadium eight teams in mixed doubles began two full days before the opening ceremony for the 2026 Milan Cortina Games. American curler Korey Dropkin said he has been waiting a long time for this moment. Being amongst the best, it's a very cool atmosphere to be part of, said Dropkin, a first-time Olympian who will begin competition Thursday."
"We're looking forward to being ready to compete and pour our hearts out on the ice. Preparations for the first curling competition are made at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Opening night in this mountain resort was just the first of the round robin matches in mixed doubles curling, where teams with one woman and one man face off against one another."
"Fans have arrived in Cortina, and they are excited for the first matches. Bernard Benoit traveled from Ontario, Canada, to root for his home team before going on to meet his daughter in Milan. While he's a longtime curling fan, it's his first time at the Olympics. He said he came a long way to see the best in the world because he loves how curling is a mix of athleticism and intellect and a strategy game."
"Benoit is cheering for Canadian couple Jocelyn Peterman and Brett Gallant, who are competing in mixed doubles. Three of the teams are married couples and one is a sibling team. Marie Kaldvee and Harri Lill are the first ever to compete for Estonia in curling. Italian duo Stefania Constantini, who is from Cortina, and Amos Mosaner are the defending world and Olympic champions in mixed doubles."
Curling competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo opened with mixed doubles matches two days before the Milan-Cortina opening ceremony. Eight mixed doubles teams began round-robin play at the historic Cortina curling stadium. American Korey Dropkin, a first-time Olympian, described the atmosphere as very cool and said the team aims to compete and pour their hearts out on the ice. Fans and volunteers filled the venue, including Bernard Benoit who traveled from Ontario to cheer for Canada, and Stephanie Kahn, a volunteer eager to learn the sport. Teams include married couples, a sibling pairing, Estonia's first Olympic curling entry, and Italian defending champions Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]