Curling Kicks Off Milan Cortina Winter Games in Style
The curtain has opened on the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, with the inaugural curling matches held at the historic curling stadium two days ahead of the opening ceremony. The competition features eight teams competing in mixed doubles, and American curler Korey Dropkin is set to take to the ice for his Olympic debut.
The atmosphere at the venue was electric, with competitors describing it as a "very cool" environment where they can be amongst the best of the sport. With a long history of athleticism and strategy involved in curling, fans are eagerly anticipating an intense competition that will push athletes to their limits.
Among the spectators is Bernard Benoit from Ontario, Canada, who has traveled all the way to Italy to support his home team, despite not having previously attended an Olympics. For him, curling represents a unique blend of athleticism and intellect, making it a compelling spectator sport.
Several notable teams are competing in the mixed doubles category, including Italian duo Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner, who are the defending world and Olympic champions. Meanwhile, Estonian siblings Marie Kaldvee and Harri Lill are set to make their Olympic debut in curling.
A volunteer at the curling center, Stephanie Kahn from the United States, is eager to learn more about the sport and experience the level of commitment required to be a top athlete. Her presence adds to the excitement, highlighting what makes curling so special – the sense of camaraderie among athletes who have dedicated themselves to their craft.
With the opening night set to be just the first of several rounds of matches, fans can expect an engaging and thrilling competition that will showcase the skills and strategies involved in this unique winter sport.
The curtain has opened on the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, with the inaugural curling matches held at the historic curling stadium two days ahead of the opening ceremony. The competition features eight teams competing in mixed doubles, and American curler Korey Dropkin is set to take to the ice for his Olympic debut.
The atmosphere at the venue was electric, with competitors describing it as a "very cool" environment where they can be amongst the best of the sport. With a long history of athleticism and strategy involved in curling, fans are eagerly anticipating an intense competition that will push athletes to their limits.
Among the spectators is Bernard Benoit from Ontario, Canada, who has traveled all the way to Italy to support his home team, despite not having previously attended an Olympics. For him, curling represents a unique blend of athleticism and intellect, making it a compelling spectator sport.
Several notable teams are competing in the mixed doubles category, including Italian duo Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner, who are the defending world and Olympic champions. Meanwhile, Estonian siblings Marie Kaldvee and Harri Lill are set to make their Olympic debut in curling.
A volunteer at the curling center, Stephanie Kahn from the United States, is eager to learn more about the sport and experience the level of commitment required to be a top athlete. Her presence adds to the excitement, highlighting what makes curling so special – the sense of camaraderie among athletes who have dedicated themselves to their craft.
With the opening night set to be just the first of several rounds of matches, fans can expect an engaging and thrilling competition that will showcase the skills and strategies involved in this unique winter sport.
Curling is literally the coziest Winter Olympic event - I love how it brings together strategy and athleticism in a super chill environment 
The atmosphere at the curling stadium sounds electric, and I'm so stoked to see Bernard from Canada traveling all the way to Italy to support his home team 
The fact that teams like Stefania and Amos are defending world and Olympic champions just makes it even more exciting 
Meanwhile, I think it's awesome that a volunteer like Stephanie is there to learn about the sport - curling really is all about the camaraderie among athletes 
Overall, I'm expecting an engaging competition that'll show off the skills of these talented curlers 
Just imagine the athletes goin' all out for that perfect shot... it's like they're tryin' to win a prize for most stylish fall 
. Anyway, sounds like the atmosphere is pretty chill (get it? chill? like the ice? 
) and the competition is gonna be fierce! Can't wait to see those teams go head-to-head and may the best curler win 
️! The atmosphere at the stadium is supposed to be amazing 
️, with athletes describing it as a "very cool" environment 
. I love how supportive families are too 
, like Bernard from Ontario, who's traveled all the way to Italy to cheer on his team 
. And with top teams like Stefania and Amos from Italy and Marie and Harri from Estonia competing, it's gonna be a nail-biter competition 
. AND CAN WE TALK ABOUT HOW COOL IT IS THAT THERE ARE FANS LIKE BERNARD BENOT FROM ONTARIO, CANADA, WHO HAVE TRAVELED ALL THE WAY TO SUPPORT THEIR HOME TEAM?! 
. BRING ON THE CURLING ACTION!!!
it's amazing to see athletes pushing themselves to new limits, especially with all the strategy involved 
can't wait to watch some epic comebacks and nail-biting finishes! 
Korey Dropkin's Olympic debut is gonna be lit 
, but I'm also hyped for Stephanie Kahn to soak up as much knowledge as she can - it's awesome to see fans getting stoked about the sport too 
what do you guys think about the mixed doubles format?
stats show 70% of curlers rely on strategy over brute force 
that's like 2-3 brooms per hour! 
and according to olympic.com, americans have been winning most gold medals in curling since 2006...korey dropkin better step up his game 
i mean dont get me wrong its not for everyone but theres somethin about the strategy and the teamwork thats just so fascinating. Ive been watchin some vids of these athletes in training and their focus and dedication are insane 
. But what really gets me is how some volunteers, like Stephanie, are learning about the sport and getting a taste of what it's like to be an elite athlete 
. It just goes to show that there's more to Olympics than just the athletes competing - there's the whole community behind them that makes it all happen 
. Those teams are so hyped up, but let's be real, someone's gonna pull a hamstring or spill their broom and the whole vibe will shift 
. And what's with all these newbies? Korey Dropkin thinks he can just waltz in here and steal the show without even winning any big tournaments beforehand 
. I mean, I'm sure it'll be fun for the fans, but for me, I'm already bored 
.
. And let's be real, the combo of athleticism and strategy is pretty intriguing. I'm not saying I'd tune in regularly or anything (I'm still more of a football fan myself 
. And what's up with all the new teams and players? Can't we just have a little consistency for once? I mean, I love watching Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner battle it out - they're like curling royalty 
...but can we please just have more of that? 
"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." I think it's awesome how curling has become a part of the Winter Olympics, bringing together athletes from different countries to compete and learn from each other. The mix of athleticism and strategy makes for an exciting spectator sport that showcases the best of human performance. Can't wait to see the competition unfold! 
. And have you ever noticed how calm and collected those curlers stay under pressure? It's like they're all zen masters up there on the ice 
curling looks so chill but apparently its super intense, i need to check out these mixed doubles matches ASAP 
. Who knew curling could be so captivating? 
can't wait to see korey dropkin in action 