Latest news with #MilanCortinaWinterOlympics
New York Times
5 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
Russian hockey teams remain banned from 2026 Olympics. What does it mean for NHL players?
The NHL is not expecting Russian participation in the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, deputy commissioner Bill Daly said Wednesday in a news conference before Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final. His statement came on the heels of the International Olympic Committee confirming last week its stance that both Russia and Belarus should be barred from fielding teams of athletes. Advertisement The IOC Executive Board recommended sanctions for Russia after the country invaded Ukraine in February 2022 with support from Belarus, its eastern neighbor. The recommendations to international sports federations were first announced in 2023, leading to Russia and Belarus missing out on the 2024 Paris Olympics. The IOC requested an Olympic hockey schedule and groupings from the International Ice Hockey Federation in early May, IIHF president Luc Tardif recently told reporters. The IOC then reaffirmed its recommendations in a statement at the end of the month. Neither the IOC nor the IIHF have released official decisions on Russia's involvement in the 2026 Olympics, which will be held next February. But the recommendations are not expected to change, as Daly's comment indicated. The chances of a Russian team taking the ice for the Olympic hockey tournament are slim, if not zero. Here's a look at the situation and its particular impact on the men's hockey tournament, which will see active NHL players competing in it for the first time since 2014. There has been a long history of countries not being allowed to compete at the Olympics. In the wake of World War II, Germany and Japan were not invited to the 1948 Olympics. The IOC barred South Africa from the Olympics from 1964 until the 1992 Games due to apartheid. Yugoslavia didn't have a team while under sanctions in 1992 for military aggression against Bosnia-Herzegovina. Olympics historian David Wallechinsky said that historically, the IOC has banned countries on a case-by-case basis that has not always been consistent. He mentioned that the U.S. did not get sanctioned when it went to war in Vietnam. The idea didn't even come up. 'If you look at South Africa and Russia, it took outside pressure to even get (the IOC) to act seriously,' Wallechinsky said. 'They do have this philosophy, long-standing: Don't punish athletes because of the actions of their government. They'll kind of bend over backwards to allow that. But if there's enough outside pressure, like South Africa and Ukraine, then they act.' Advertisement Russia is a traditional Olympic power in men's hockey. The Soviets won gold seven times, as did the 1992 Unified Team (a group of athletes from Russia and four other former Soviet states) and the 2018 Olympic Athletes of Russia. The NHL hasn't sent players to the Winter Olympics since 2014, when Canada defeated Sweden to win gold in Sochi, Russia. The Russian men's team did not medal on home ice, a source of national embarrassment so bitter that some players from that team did not attend the closing ceremonies. NHL stars Nikita Kucherov, Andrei Vasilevskiy and Artemi Panarin, all of whom are at least 30 years old, have never competed in the Olympics. With the IOC's recommendations intact, it's possible they never will. The exclusion of Russian teams also means Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin might never play in the Olympics together and both of their decorated careers could end without an Olympic medal. Russia hasn't reached the podium with active NHL players since taking bronze in 2002, before either star was on the team. Before the sanctions for its invasion of Ukraine, Russia faced discipline for what the IOC referred to as 'systematic manipulation of the anti-doping system.' But while the IOC banned the Russian Olympic Committee, athletes from the country were allowed to participate at the 2018 Winter Games under the Olympic flag and a new name: 'Olympic Athletes of Russia.' That year, in Pyeongchang, South Korea, a team of Russian players won gold in men's hockey. At the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo (which were delayed until 2021 because of COVID-19) and the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing, meanwhile, Russians competed as the Russian Olympic Committee — rather than as Russia — because of continued fallout from the doping scandal. At the latter Olympics, the Russian Olympic Committee men's hockey team took silver. Advertisement Multiple Russians who play in NHL and KHL, speaking on condition of anonymity because the Russian Federation did not approve their comments, said they would not want to compete in the Olympics under these altered titles in Milan Cortina. 'We are Russian,' one of those players said. 'If we play it's Russia flag, Russia name. Like other countries.' At the 2024 Paris Olympics, 32 individual Russian and Belarusian athletes were allowed to participate under the title 'Individual Neutral Athletes.' There are set to be neutral athletes again at the 2026 Games with the same recommendations as 2024 in place, including that athletes who actively support the war or who are contracted to the Russian or Belarusian military cannot compete. But, as of now, there will not be a men's or women's hockey team with a neutral name. 'It is based on the fact that, by definition, a group of Individual Neutral Athletes cannot be considered a team,' the IOC said in a statement. 'We take note that the IIHF has confirmed that it will follow this recommendation.' According to the IIHF website, 'The decision whether Russia participates in the 2026 Winter Olympic Games will remain under the International Olympic Committee's jurisdiction.' The IIHF Council did, however, announce in February that Russia and Belarus would not be reincorporated into its championships in the 2025-26 season, which includes events like the World Championship and World Juniors. 'As the current security conditions do not allow the necessary requirements for the organization of tournaments guaranteeing the safety of all, the IIHF must maintain the current status quo until further notice,' it said in a statement. Tardif, speaking at world junior championships in January, said he wants Russia back in competitions as soon as possible. Advertisement 'It will mean the war will be over,' he said. '(Russia) is missed for any competition. But let them come too early, that's not going to be good.' The Russian Ice Hockey Federation said in a statement that it hopes the IOC's recommendations will be revised. A spokesperson said the federation cannot appeal recommendations but 'as soon as we receive a specific decision, we will be able to decide on our possible actions against it.' Based on recent precedent, a successful appeal seems close to impossible. In July 2022, the Court of Arbitration for Sport dismissed Russia's appeal of FIFA and UEFA's decisions to ban Russia from national and club competition. Beyond the Olympics, the Russian federation also disagreed with the IIHF's decision not to reincorporate Russia into its 2025-26 events, taking objection to the IIHF citing security concerns as its primary reason. 'The successes of Russian athletes in the NHL, AHL, NCAA and other leagues in various countries, the attention they receive and the friendly atmosphere around them prove that we do not pose a security threat, as many federations state, and that sport can still exist beyond politics, despite the position of individual sports officials,' the Russian federation said in its statement. If the recommendations remain in place, France will replace Russia in both the men's and women's hockey tournaments. Russia is currently second in the IIHF men's rankings and sixth on the women's side, while France is No. 14 and No. 15, respectively. At the most recent men's world championships, the French roster included St. Louis Blues forward Alexandre Texier, Washington Capitals goalie prospect Antoine Keller, and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, who played 700 NHL games before going to the Swiss league this season. It was the only team at the tournament that failed to win a game, though it picked up a point for an overtime loss. Advertisement The French were not at the 2025 women's world championships. The Russian NHL and KHL players who spoke to The Athletic said they are not surprised by the recommendations remaining in place but remained hopeful a resolution could be reached. One player, speaking on condition of anonymity because the Russian Ice Hockey Federation did not approve his comments, said that he's received 'hidden support' from non-Russian NHL players citing Russia's status as a historic rival to many Olympic countries — specifically Canada, the U.S. and Czechia. 'If you ask the athletes, we want to play the best,' one non-Russian NHL player said. 'I think that's in any sport. But they're not asking us what we want. I think these decisions have nothing to do with the hockey or other sports. It's not about the players, the athletes. It's above us.' That feeling is not universal. Hall of Fame goalie Dominik Hašek, who is from Czechia, has been adamantly opposed to Russia competing in the Olympics, recently tweeting approval for the IOC's stance. (Photo of Russian players celebrating their 2018 Olympic gold medal: Geoff Burke / USA TODAY)
NBC Sports
13-02-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS FOR MIXED DOUBLES CURLING BEGIN NEXT WEEK, FEB. 17-23, LIVE ACROSS CNBC AND PEACOCK, KICKING OFF THE ROAD TO 2026 MILAN CORTINA WINTER OLYMPICS
Winning Duo Qualifies for 2025 World Mixed Doubles Championships, Where They Can Compete for Spot at 2026 Milan Cortina Olympic Winter Games Mixed Doubles Curling Olympic Trials from Rock Creek Curling in Lafayette, Colo., Begin Monday, Feb. 17, at 9 p.m. ET on Peacock Curling Returns to CNBC; All Events Stream Live on Peacock Commentators: Jason Knapp, Kevin Martin, and Kira K. Dixon Curling Coverage Kicks Off NBC Sports' Coverage of U.S. Olympic Team Trials Ahead of 2026 Milan Cortina Olympic Winter Games STAMFORD, Conn. – Feb. 13, 2025 – With just under a year to go until the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, NBC Sports presents live coverage of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Mixed Doubles Curling with over 100 hours of live coverage across CNBC and Peacock over seven days from Rock Creek Curling in Lafayette, Colo. Coverage begins on Peacock this Monday, Feb. 17, with all five games from Draw 1 at 9 p.m. ET. Live coverage of the Mixed Doubles Curling Olympic Trials concludes next Sunday, Feb. 23, when CNBC and Peacock will carry Game 2 of the Final at 2 p.m. ET and Game 3 (if necessary) at 8 p.m. ET. The winning team at the Trials will represent Team USA at the 2025 Mixed Doubles World Championship in Fredericton, Canada, in April 2025, where they will attempt to secure a spot for the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. Throughout next week (Feb. 17-21), Peacock will stream all five games from all nine draws, including a tiebreaker (if necessary) and the two games of the Page Playoffs on Friday, Feb. 21. On the final two days of coverage, Feb. 22-23, CNBC and Peacock will present the semifinal and final. All Mixed Doubles Curling Olympic Trials coverage will also stream via and the NBC Sports app. The U.S. mixed doubles contingent has been on the rise since the 2022 Winter Olympics. Just one year later, at the 2023 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship, the U.S. duo of Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin defeated Japan, 8-2, to earn the country's first-ever mixed doubles world championship, as well as only its third podium finish since the inaugural World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship in 2008. The U.S. Olympian brother-sister duo of Matt and Becca Hamilton finished 10th at the 2024 World Championships after a victory over Thiesse and Dropkin at the U.S. National Championship. There will be 10 teams competing at the Olympic Trials: Matt and Becca Hamilton, Cory Thiesse/Korey Dropkin, Aileen Geving/John Shuster, Sarah Anderson/Andrew Stopera, Madison Bear/Aidan Oldenburg, Clare Moores/Lance Wheeler, Taylor Anderson-Heide/Ben Richardson, Lexi Daly/Luc Violette, Nina Roth/Kroy Nernberger, and BriAnna Weldon and Sean Franey. NBC Sports' Jason Knapp will call the semifinal and final games, joined by analyst and two-time Olympic medalist Kevin Martin, and reporter Kira K. Dixon. Martin, also a world champion, four-time Canadian champion, and World Curling Hall of Famer, won gold on home ice at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Broadcast Team Play-by-play: Jason Knapp Analyst: Kevin Martin Reporter: Kira K. Dixon How To Watch – Monday, Feb. 17 – Sunday, Feb. 23 (all times ET) Streaming: Peacock, NBC Sports app TV: CNBC *If necessary --U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS--
NBC Sports
12-02-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics: Storylines one year out from the Games
The 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics kick off Feb. 6 with an Opening Ceremony at San Siro Stadium in Milan (with non-medal competition beginning Feb. 4). The 116 medal events — most in Winter Olympic history — will be scattered across Northern Italy from Milan in the west to Cortina d'Ampezzo in the east. Here are 10 American-focused storylines for the 25th edition of the Winter Games: Can U.S. challenge Norway in medal standings? In the last three Winter Olympic total medal standings, the U.S. finished fifth (2022), fourth (2018) and second (2014). Norway, which won the most medals in 2018 and 2022, and winter power Germany will have an advantage of competing in their own time zone. But the U.S. could get a boost from rising stars, notably in speed skating (Jordan Stolz won three golds at world championships in 2023 and 2024) and short track (Kristen Santos-Griswold won five medals at worlds in 2024). At the 2022 Olympics, the U.S. won three total speed skating medals (one bronze on the men's side) and zero in short track. The U.S. won the most total medals at a Winter Olympics twice — in 1932 in Lake Placid and in 2010 in Vancouver. Then there are questions facing Norway, which is poised to be without three of its biggest current stars: Johannes Thingnes Bø (world's top male biathlete) and Jarl Magnus Riiber (world's top male Nordic combined skier) both announced in January that they will retire after the 2024-25 season. While triple 2022 Olympic cross-country skiing gold medalist Therese Johaug ended a two-year retirement to compete this season, she has said she also plans to stop after this winter. Best U.S. figure skating team in decades? At last December's Grand Prix Final, U.S. figure skaters won three events at a major championship for the first time (Olympics, World Championships, Grand Prix Final). Ilia Malinin, the only skater to land a quadruple Axel in competition, hasn't lost since December 2023. Ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates have one loss since the start of 2023. Amber Glenn has won all five of her competitions this season. Tack on the team event, and it could be a historic medal haul for the Americans at Milan Cortina. The U.S. last won two individual figure skating events at one Olympics in 1960, the same year the U.S. last won four total figure skating medals at one Olympics. The U.S. did win two golds in 2022, counting the team event, which debuted in 2014. Skaters from Russia are slated to return to international competition in a limited, neutral capacity for Olympic qualifying next season. Should a women's singles skater from Russia be invited to the Milan Cortina Games, she could be the favorite. As of now, skaters from Russia will not be eligible to participate in the Olympic team event. Philip Hersh, Alpine: Mikaela Shiffrin rebounds, Lindsey Vonn returns The U.S. Alpine skiing team could include the two winningest women in World Cup history — Shiffrin has 99 victories, while Vonn has 82. Shiffrin, a gold medalist in 2014 (slalom) and 2018 (giant slalom), left the 2022 Beijing Games with zero medals. But she went right back to success on the World Cup and at the World Championships, including breaking the record for most Alpine World Cup wins for a woman or man. She recently returned after missing two months of competition after tearing oblique muscles in a race crash. Shiffrin and Breezy Johnson teamed to win the world championships debut of the team combined event on Tuesday, three days after Johnson won the downhill at worlds. The team combined makes its Olympic debut in 2026. Vonn, who in 2010 became the first U.S. woman to win the Olympic downhill, ended a five-year retirement to compete this season at age 40. Her ultimate goal is to make a fifth Olympic team in 2026. She is well on her way, having raced seven World Cups this winter with best finishes of fourth (super-G) and sixth (downhill). Hockey: NHL returns, U.S.-Canada rivalry reprised NHL players are expected to participate in the Olympics for the first time since 2014. That means Sidney Crosby could go for a third gold medal, while fellow Canadian Connor McDavid and American Auston Matthews could make Olympic debuts. This month's 4 Nations Face-Off could be an Olympic preview, pitting the world's top four teams: the U.S., Canada, Sweden and Finland. Russia has been banned from international hockey since shortly after the invasion of Ukraine, but a final decision on its Olympic eligibility has not been made. The U.S. and Canada remain closely bunched atop women's hockey. They have met in six of the seven all-time Olympic finals. They traded the last two Olympic titles and the last two world titles with Canada taking the most recent of each. The American roster could include Hilary Knight for a fifth time, plus Kendall Coyne Schofield (who had son Drew in July 2023) and Laila Edwards, who in 2023 became the first Black woman to play for the senior national team, then in 2024 was World Championship MVP. Nick Zaccardi, Chloe Kim goes for gold No. 3 Kim, who will be 25 come the Milan Cortina Games, can become the first snowboarder to win the same Olympic event three times (if she isn't beaten to it by Austrian Anna Gasser (big air) and Czech Ester Ledecka (parallel giant slalom). She took a year off after the 2022 Beijing Games. While she has been challenged — even defeated at times — she won the last two X Games titles. She also became the first woman to land both a 1260 and a double cork 1080 in competition. Another first for Jessie Diggins? Diggins is already an Olympic medalist of every color, including winning the first U.S. cross-country skiing gold in the team sprint in 2018 with since-retired Kikkan Randall. In 2026, she can become the first U.S. cross-country skier to win individual Olympic gold. Diggins won last season's World Cup overall title as the top cross-country skier across all events, plus leads this season's standings. The Olympic schedule could set up well with both the team sprint and the 10km (where she's reigning world champion) being held in her better freestyle technique rather than the classic style. Mark your calendars for Jordan Stolz Stolz, a 20-year-old who began skating on a pond in his Wisconsin backyard, is the two-time reigning world champion in three events: 500m, 1000m and 1500m. He can become the second American to take three golds at a single Winter Games after Eric Heiden, who won all five speed skating events in Lake Placid in 1980. Stolz recently went undefeated over those three distances for more than one year, winning 18 consecutive World Cup races. He also broke the world record in the 1000m. Kaillie Humphries, Elana Meyers Taylor back in bobsled Kaillie Humphries owns the most Olympic gold medals in women's bobsled history (three). Elana Meyers Taylor owns the most total Olympic medals in women's bobsled history (five). Each has come back from childbirth in this Olympic cycle with an eye on the Milan Cortina Games. Humphries had her first child, son Aulden, last June. Meyers Taylor had her second son, Noah, in November 2022, after competing at the 2022 Games two years after having son Nico. Humphries can tie the overall bobsled record of four gold medals. Meyers Taylor seeks her first gold and is one medal of any color shy of the U.S. Winter Olympic female record of six held by speed skater Bonnie Blair. Freestyle skiing medals bonanza In 2022, freestyle skiers accounted for eight of the U.S.' 25 total medals across all sports. It's shaping up to be another bountiful Games in 2026. The team is led by men's halfpipe skiers. Alex Ferreira, who took silver and bronze at the last two Olympics, won all seven of his competitions in the 2023-24 season. Nick Goepper, a three-time medalist in slopestyle, has switched to halfpipe and defeated Ferreira at the X Games last month. David Wise, a two-time gold medalist, bids to make his Olympic farewell in 2026. Elsewhere, Americans are medal contenders in moguls (led by 2022 silver medalist Jaelin Kauf), aerials (led by newcomer Quinn Dehlinger) and slopestyle (led by 2022 gold medalist Alex Hall). Kristen Santos-Griswold's short track revival Santos-Griswold was vying for her first Olympic medal in 2022 when she got caught up in a crash in the last lap of the 1000m final. She ended up fourth, one spot off the podium. She contemplated whether to continue competing after those Games. Ultimately, she kept skating. She wasn't so much motivated by just missing that medal, but decided that the journey was more important than the outcomes of races that she couldn't fully control. Santos-Griswold has thrived since, winning a medal in all five events at the 2024 World Championships. This season, she leads the World Cup overall standings with one stop left on the circuit. Next February, she can become the first U.S. female short track speed skater to win an Olympic medal since 2010.
NBC Sports
12-02-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
2026 Milan Cortina Olympic venues: city arenas, scenic mountains, iconic ceremony landmarks
The 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics feature venues spread across the city of Milan and the mountains of Northern Italy, plus two iconic landmarks for Opening and Closing Ceremonies. Competition in 116 medal events among 16 sports will be shared by three regions: Lombardia (which includes Milan), Trentino and Veneto (which includes Cortina d'Ampezzo, the 1956 Winter Games host). The Games kick off Feb. 6, 2026, with the Opening Ceremony at the San Siro, the most famous soccer stadium in Italy and home to AC Milan (since 1926) and Inter Milan (since 1947). MILAN, ITALY - MAY 11: In an aerial view, the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza stands, before the Serie A TIM match between AC Milan and Cagliari at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on May 11, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/AC Milan via Getty Images) The San Siro is home to two of Italy's most storied soccer teams — AC Milan and Inter Milan. (Getty) Milan: Figure skating, hockey, short track, speed skating As with recent Winter Games, the indoor ice sports are clustered together in a city. The Milan Ice Skating Arena will hold figure skating and short track. Hockey will be in two venues — the Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena (including all the medal games) and a temporary venue at the Fiera exhibition center. The exhibition center will also hold speed skating. Cortina d'Ampezzo: Alpine Skiing (Women), Biathlon Bobsled, Curling, Luge, Skeleton In 1956, Cortina became the first Italian host of an Olympics (Summer or Winter), back when there were 24 total medal events on the Winter Games program. Cortina is often called the 'Queen of the Dolomites' for its scenery. Though Cortina is one of multiple hosts this time, it will actually hold more medal events in 2026 (30 total) than it did in 1956. Women's Alpine races will be at the Olimpia delle Tofane, a regular stop on the annual World Cup circuit. Bobsled, luge and skeleton will be at a rebuilt version of the 1956 Olympic sliding track. Organizers expect the track to be ready in time, but Lake Placid, New York, is ready as a plan B option if necessary. Though curling wasn't part of the 1956 Cortina Games, the 2026 Olympic Curling Stadium is on the site of the 1956 Opening and Closing Ceremonies and figure skating events (which were outdoors). Biathlon will be at Anterselva, about an hour drive north of Cortina, crossing from the Veneto region into Trentino and nearing the Austrian border. The Olympia delle Tofane Alpine skiing venue is in the Dolomite Mountains. (Milan Cortina 2026) Valtellina: Alpine Skiing (Men), Freestyle Skiing, Ski Mountaineering, Snowboarding Valtellina will have the most medal events out of the venue clusters — 34 in total. Bormio will hold men's Alpine skiing (at the famed Stelvio course) and the new Olympic sport of ski mountaineering. In ski mountaineering, often called skimo, athletes race up and down a course and can alternate between being on skis and on foot (with their skis attached to their back). Livigno, which is near the Swiss border, hosts freestyle skiing and snowboarding, two historically strong sports for the U.S. Val di Fiemme: Cross-Country Skiing, Nordic Combined, Ski Jumping Val di Fiemme is nestled in Trentino, between Bormio to the west (in Lombardia) and Cortina to the east (in Veneto). Within Val di Fiemme, ski jumping will be at Predazzo and cross-country skiing at Tesero. The valley held the world championships for Nordic skiing events in 1991, 2003 and 2013, plus is the site of the annual final stages of the Tour de Ski cross-country skiing event. —- The Closing Ceremony is Feb. 22 at the Verona Arena, the third-largest Roman amphitheater still in existence. It was built in 30 AD to host gladiator fights. Since 1913, it has held outdoor operas. The Verona Arena will host the Olympic Closing Ceremony and Paralympic Opening Ceremony. (Milan Cortina 2026) Nick Zaccardi,
NBC Sports
30-01-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Italian Alps to host 2028 Youth Winter Olympics
Italy will host the 2028 Youth Winter Olympics spread across the Alps in the northern part of the country. Dolomiti Valtellina 2028 will mark the fifth Youth Winter Games following 2012 (Innsbruck, Austria), 2016 (Lillehammer, Norway), 2020 (Lausanne, Switzerland) and 2024 (Gangwon, South Korea). Italy, which will host the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, will become the first nation to hold a Youth Olympics — Summer or Winter — directly after holding a Summer or Winter Olympics. Last July, the IOC named the Italian bid its 'preferred host' for the 2028 Youth Olympics and invited Italian Olympic officials into targeted dialogue about hosting. Then in December, the Italian bid was recommended by the IOC Executive Board to host in 2028, sending it to Thursday's vote at an IOC session in Lausanne. Seven of the 11 competition venues for 2028 will be carried over from the 2026 Milan Cortina Games. Notable past Youth Winter Olympians include snowboarder Chloe Kim, freestyle skier Eileen Gu and hockey player Jack Eichel. Italy won the most gold medals (11) at the last Youth Winter Olympics in 2024. Nick Zaccardi,
