Mixed Doubles Curling Opens Competition at Milano Cortina Winter Olympics

Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Feb 5: The Milano Cortina Winter Olympics officially got underway on Wednesday as the mixed doubles curling competition began two days ahead of the Opening Ceremony, drawing enthusiastic fans to the snowy mountain town of Cortina d’Ampezzo.

Cheers echoed through the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium as the first stones were delivered, with spectators braving steady snowfall to witness the start of the competition. While weather conditions prevented a full house, fans maintained a festive atmosphere throughout the opening matches.

Play was briefly halted early in the session due to a power failure that caused the arena lights to shut off and scoreboards to go dark. Applause erupted once electricity was restored and competition resumed.

The four matches played on Wednesday marked the beginning of nearly three weeks of curling at a venue rich in Olympic history. The Cortina Arena previously played a central role in the 1956 Winter Olympics, hosting the opening and closing ceremonies as well as figure skating and ice hockey events.

Canadian curler Brett Gallant said athletes were eager to finally begin competition after months of preparation.

“We’re excited to get things started,” Gallant said after a morning training session. “The waiting is over, and we’re ready to get on the ice and compete.”

Although only a single session was scheduled for Wednesday, fans can expect a full slate of curling matches on Thursday. Defending champions and host nation Italy are among the teams set to compete.

Elsewhere, women’s ice hockey preliminary games will also begin in Milan on Thursday.

The Opening Ceremony is scheduled for Friday and will be staged across multiple locations, including Milan’s iconic San Siro stadium, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Livigno in Valtellina, and Predazzo in Trento province. Organizers have described it as the first “widespread ceremony” in Winter Olympic history.