Brief Power Outage Hinders Start of Curling Competition at 2026 Winter Olympics
The inaugural mixed doubles curling matches at the 2026 Winter Olympics got off to a rocky start on Wednesday, as a power outage paused play mid-match in Cortina, Italy. The energy-related issue lasted approximately three minutes before being resolved, leaving competitors, officials, and spectators alike breathing a collective sigh of relief.
American curler Korey Dropkin, competing for the first time at the Olympics, described the experience as "very cool" and expressed his team's eagerness to get back on the ice. The competition marked the start of the long mixed doubles tournament, which sees teams with one woman and one man face off against each other in a unique blend of athleticism and strategy.
As fans cheered on their country's teams, some even held large flags and waved handheld ones, creating an electric atmosphere at the historic curling stadium. Canadian duo Jocelyn Peterman and Brett Gallant were among those competing, with fan Bernard Benoit traveling from Ontario to support his home team before meeting up with his daughter in Milan.
The unexpected interruption was a stark contrast to the steady snowfall that blanketed Cortina throughout the day, with over 8 inches reported in some areas. Italian duo Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner, defending world and Olympic champions in mixed doubles, will be looking to make it two for two when competition resumes.
While some spectators were unfamiliar with curling, others had a deep passion for the sport, like Stephanie Kahn, a volunteer at the center who was once an aspiring Olympic swimmer. "Being amongst the best, it's a very cool atmosphere to be part of," she said, highlighting the immense commitment required to reach the top in any sport.
The 2026 Winter Olympics have officially begun, and while a brief power outage may have delayed the start, fans can look forward to an exciting few weeks of curling action.
The inaugural mixed doubles curling matches at the 2026 Winter Olympics got off to a rocky start on Wednesday, as a power outage paused play mid-match in Cortina, Italy. The energy-related issue lasted approximately three minutes before being resolved, leaving competitors, officials, and spectators alike breathing a collective sigh of relief.
American curler Korey Dropkin, competing for the first time at the Olympics, described the experience as "very cool" and expressed his team's eagerness to get back on the ice. The competition marked the start of the long mixed doubles tournament, which sees teams with one woman and one man face off against each other in a unique blend of athleticism and strategy.
As fans cheered on their country's teams, some even held large flags and waved handheld ones, creating an electric atmosphere at the historic curling stadium. Canadian duo Jocelyn Peterman and Brett Gallant were among those competing, with fan Bernard Benoit traveling from Ontario to support his home team before meeting up with his daughter in Milan.
The unexpected interruption was a stark contrast to the steady snowfall that blanketed Cortina throughout the day, with over 8 inches reported in some areas. Italian duo Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner, defending world and Olympic champions in mixed doubles, will be looking to make it two for two when competition resumes.
While some spectators were unfamiliar with curling, others had a deep passion for the sport, like Stephanie Kahn, a volunteer at the center who was once an aspiring Olympic swimmer. "Being amongst the best, it's a very cool atmosphere to be part of," she said, highlighting the immense commitment required to reach the top in any sport.
The 2026 Winter Olympics have officially begun, and while a brief power outage may have delayed the start, fans can look forward to an exciting few weeks of curling action.
remember when we'd get cut off during the Super Bowl 'cause of a storm in Jersey? anywayz, I think curling is kinda cool, but i mean, who gets excited about ice and sticks? 
I used to watch figure skating with my sis when we were kids, and it was all like... "oh, look, they're falling" 
. nowdays, everyone's all about the speed & tricks, you know? 
still, i guess it's nice that the fans are hyped, even if they don't really get what's goin' on out there 
I mean, what's up with this? Power outage at the Olympics? It's like something out of a movie! But for real though, curling is such a unique sport - it's not like other Winter Games events, you know? The atmosphere was electric and everyone was hyped to be there. 
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And can we talk about how cool it must be to see the world's best athletes competing in something that requires so much strategy and teamwork? I'm definitely intrigued now - maybe I'll have to watch some highlights after this 
it's crazy how things used to be back in the 90s when the first Winter Olympics were held in Lillehammer, Norway... no power outages, just pure competition spirit 
and i kinda miss the old-school curling ice where you could see every stone being swept under the ice... nowadays its all high tech with those fancy automatic sweepers 
but hey, at least the fans are excited right?! 
8 inches of snow is wild. anyway, hopefully they get back to the game soon. can't wait to see more of this tournament 
But amidst all that chaos, the athletes showed true spirit and sportsmanship. Can't wait to see how this tournament unfolds 