The 2026 Winter Olympic Games officially commenced on February 6th, with a vibrant opening ceremony held across multiple locations in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, featuring performances by Mariah Carey and Andrea Bocelli. The games, which will run through February 22nd, will showcase 16 winter sports, with the Paralympics to follow in March.
The opening ceremony, which took place across four locations, including Milan's San Siro stadium, was an impressive production, according to BBC Sport journalist Sam Drury. Two Olympic cauldrons were lit, one in Milan and the other in Cortina, as the torch entered the San Siro. American viewers will need to account for the time difference, as Italy is six hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time and nine hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time, according to CBS News.
The competition schedule for Saturday, February 7th, includes various skiing events such as alpine, cross-country, and freestyle. Approximately 2,900 athletes are competing in 116 events, all vying for gold, silver, and bronze medals. The United States took home the most medals at the 2024 Summer Games in Paris, with 126 medals, including 40 gold, according to CBS News.
Meanwhile, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) signaled a potential shift in its stance on Russia's participation in international sports. After facing sanctions and suspensions due to a state-sanctioned doping program and the invasion of Ukraine, Russia may be welcomed back into mainstream competition. "We are a sports organization," said Kirsty Coventry, the IOC president, emphasizing the committee's understanding of politics, according to the New York Times.
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