Ice hockey, curling, influencers—the 2026 Winter Olympics promise to be the most talked about Games in recent memory. WIRED has all the news you need coming out of Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.

The Winter Olympics in Milan are halfway across the globe, but Central Ohio enthusiasts expect an uptick in interest in their sports this month as people watch the Games. Why it matters: The Olympics don't just boost the economy of host cities — they can be a crucial window during which niche and seasonal sports find new lifelong participants.

The 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics officially begins today with the opening ceremony and a number of early events. Curling began the action over the past two days and continues this Friday, as does the women’s ice hockey competition that saw Team USA beat Czech Republic yesterday.

Team USA beat Canada 7-5 on Friday to remain undefeated in round-robin play of mixed doubles curling in the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics. It is the best start by any U.S. curling team in Olympic history.

What is a curling power play? What is the hammer? How many ends? Who's on the U.S. team, and will their stone-cold strategy end the medal drought?

Follow NBC News live updates for the latest on the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, where hockey and snowboarding events will open ahead of the opening ceremony.

Italy's team lost for the first time at a major international event after perfect runs at the 2022 Olympics and 2025 world championships.

Why does curling become so popular at the Olympics? And how does it even work? Time to actually learn about this popular Winter Olympics sport.

APPLETON, Wis. (WFRV) – Curling may only grab national attention every four years during the Winter Olympics, but in Wisconsin, players say the sport has been part of winter life for generations. The game traces its roots back to Scotland and took hold in Wisconsin in the 1800s,