Curling Kicks Off a Quiet Winter Olympics
As the 2026 Winter Olympics commence, curling has made a notable debut in Cortina, Italy. The competition started on Wednesday night, attracting several hundred spectators eager to witness the first matches two days before the formal opening ceremony.
Curling Matches and Early Excitement
The matches featured eight competing teams at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium. However, shortly after the games began, a brief power outage disrupted the event. This blackout affected the scoreboards for several match-ups, including:
- Sweden vs. South Korea
- Great Britain vs. Norway
- Canada vs. Czech Republic
- Estonia vs. Switzerland
Despite the flickering lights and a temporary loss of power in the media center, curlers continued their practice on the ice. Cheerful fans celebrated when the lights returned within minutes, allowing the competition to resume.
Results of the Opening Matches
The organizers later clarified that the disruption was due to an “energy-related issue,” lasting approximately three minutes. In terms of performance, the British duo of Bruce Mouat and Jennifer Dodds started strong with an 8-6 win against Norway. Other teams that triumphed in their opening matches included Sweden, Canada, and Estonia.
The defending Olympic mixed doubles champions from Italy are set to begin their pursuit of gold against South Korea on Thursday.
Looking Forward: The Opening Ceremony
The formal opening ceremony for the 2026 Winter Olympics is scheduled for Friday at the San Siro football stadium in Milan. In a unique twist, three additional venues will be utilized for the parade of athletes. This year’s Olympics will span a diverse geographic area, with events scattered across 350 kilometers (217 miles) from Cortina to Milan. The use of existing venues marks another notable feature of these Winter Games.
For continuous updates on the 2026 Winter Olympics, visit Filmogaz.com.
