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.

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?

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.

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

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.

When the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games come around every four years, there are many sports which compete to grab the attention of viewers around the world. However, there is one in particular that seems to capture the hearts and minds of many every time: curling.

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,

Get ready to see the world's best athletes go head-to-head in their quest for the gold at the 2026 Winter Olympic venues spread across northern Italy. From the city lights of Milan to the snowy peaks of the Dolomites,

TL;DR: Live stream the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony on Peacock or NBCOlympics.com. Alternatively, access free live streams from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.