The upcoming 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics will feature 16 different sports, including multiple skating, skiing, and snowboarding events, but will not include some of the sports of yesteryear, such as dog sledding and ski ballet, according to NPR News. The games, set to begin in 2026, will also see women competing in the doubles luge event for the first time, marking a step toward gender parity in the sport, as reported by Time.
Luge, known as the fastest sport in the Winter Olympics, involves athletes racing down an ice track at speeds of approximately 100 mph on their backs on a small sled, according to Time. The sport was invented in Switzerland, with the first international luge contest held in February 1883. This year, U.S. luge athletes Chevonne Forgan and Sophia Kirkby will compete in the women's doubles event.
While the Winter Olympics will showcase traditional sports, other news is also making headlines. Taylor Swift released the music video for "Opalite," the second single off her latest album, featuring celebrity cameos and a pet rock, according to Variety. The video is currently available on Spotify and Apple Music.
In other news, the Trump Administration's immigration crackdown in Minneapolis has caused significant hardship for local businesses. Dan Swenson-Klatt, who owned the Butter Bakery Cafe for 20 years, was forced to close his business after the crackdown led to a decline in customers, according to Time. The Administration's Operation Metro Surge campaign brought an influx of federal immigration officers to the Twin Cities, aggressively ramping up enforcement in the area. Klatt stated that he stopped seeing his loyal Latino and Somali customers, who accounted for a large portion of his business.
Figure skating fans are also anticipating the quad axel, a jump that involves 4.5 revolutions in the air, according to Time. The axel jump, whether single, double, triple, or quad, involves an extra half rotation.
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