The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, kicked off competitions early with curling matches on Wednesday night. A brief power outage interrupted play and luge training in Cortina. The official opening ceremony remains one day away, with the cauldron lighting imminent.
Competitions at the 2026 Winter Olympics began ahead of the formal opening ceremony, starting with the first curling matches scheduled in Cortina d'Ampezzo on February 5, 2026. The event marks the initial action in the Italian-hosted Games, which span venues in Milan and Cortina.
According to reports, play was paused due to a brief power outage that also affected luge training sessions. This unexpected interruption highlighted early logistical challenges at the alpine site. NBC News correspondent Claudio Lavanga noted the progress of ongoing competitions while previewing the upcoming opening ceremony, emphasizing the cauldron lighting set for the following day.
The Toledo Blade described the scene in Cortina, where curling opened the sports program despite the hiccup. No further details on the outage's duration or cause were provided, but it did not derail the overall schedule. These preliminary events set the stage for the full Olympic program, drawing international attention to the host locations in northern Italy.
