2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics Kicks Off with Curling and a Power Interruption

The long-awaited 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics began on Wednesday, but not without an unexpected hiccup involving a brief power outage.

During the opener of the curling season, the lights flickered in the historic venue, causing a temporary interruption. Some curlers continued their routine on the ice despite the delay, which was quite a sight. When the lights came back on, the crowd erupted in cheers. Currently, authorities are looking into the cause of the outage, but details remain unclear.

It’s curious, really—this was a bit of a dramatic start considering the significance of the event. Curling kicked off two days before the official opening ceremony, with eight mixed doubles teams ready to compete.

American curler Cory Dropkin expressed his excitement, noting that he had been looking forward to this moment for quite a while. “It’s a really cool atmosphere to be a part of because I’m part of a great team,” he said. As a first-time Olympian, he shares the eagerness to give it their all on the ice when his competition commences on Thursday.

Opening night featured the inaugural round-robin mixed doubles match, where teams consisted of one man and one woman. Fans filled the stands, eagerly anticipating the action. They applauded, rang bells, and cheered for their favorite teams, particularly when scores were made or the game paused.

Among them were supporters of the Czech Republic and Canada, waving flags and lending their voices to the electric atmosphere. Seeing such spirited fans really adds to the excitement of the games.

Preparations were intense leading up to this event. The Italian team, consisting of Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosanel, are the defending world and Olympic champions in mixed doubles, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the competition.