Greece’s Olympic Team looks to skier Alexandros Ioannis Ginnis for its first medal in the Winter Games starting in the Italian Alps today, February 6, 2026. The XXV Olympic Winter Games, officially known as Milano Cortina 2026,

Davidson College Visiting Assistant Professor of Classics Allison Smith examines the "distant echoes" of the original Olympic Games and how they compare to the modern global competition. The discussion explores the evolution of the games from a sacred religious sanctuary at Olympia to today's "moving circus" of international host cities.

Americans who top the podium at the Milan Cortina Games will be in line for a $37,500 bonus. Their competitors could collect as much as $800,000.

As the flag is raised up the pole, and orchestra — often with a youth choir — plays the Olympic Anthem, which dates back to the 1896 Games in Athens, Greece. It was composed by Spýros Samáaras to words by Kostís Palamás, and invokes the "immortal spirit" of competition.

It’s here! The Opening Ceremony for the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games takes place Friday and promises to be one of the most ambitious and complex in Olympic history. This year’s ceremony will unfold across multiple venues.

Olympic organisers invoke ancient truce to call for suspension of war - The tradition stretches back to ancient Greece

What are Olympic medals made of? The answer varies depending on the time period of the Olympics you look into. (AP Photo)