标签： Europe

BORMIO, Italy — Amidst heavy snowfall in the Italian Alps, ski mountaineering achieved a monumental milestone on Thursday as it officially debuted at the Olympic Games with the men’s and women’s sprint events. The challenging Stelvio course provided a dramatic backdrop for this niche sport—commonly known as ‘skimo’—which combines uphill racing on skis with a high-speed downhill sprint to the finish.

The historic significance of these inaugural gold medals was palpable, with athletes vying for the coveted title of first-ever Olympic champion in their discipline. Competitors faced three intense rounds, each lasting approximately three minutes of lung-searing effort, with favorites quickly establishing dominance in the preliminary heats.

France’s Emily Harrop and Switzerland’s Marianne Fatton led the women’s field, while Spain’s Oriol Cardona Coll emerged as the frontrunner in the men’s division. The semifinal and final rounds were scheduled for later Thursday evening.

For participants in a sport dating back to the late 19th century, the Olympic debut represented an especially poignant moment. American athlete Anna Gibson, who advanced to the semifinals, described the experience: ‘Standing at the start and seeing the Olympic rings on the hillside made it feel really real.’

The course design provided spectacular viewing, resembling a snow park filled with diverse obstacles. Athletes navigated a diamond-shaped pattern before removing skis to climb steep steps in specialized boots, carrying equipment in backpacks. After reassembling their gear, competitors sprinted upward before reaching the summit where they performed a mid-air maneuver to remove ‘skins’—fabric strips that enable uphill movement—before descending at high velocity toward the finish line.

Among the most inspiring stories was that of Spain’s Ana Alonso Rodriguez, who overcame a serious September training accident when she was struck by a car, sustaining multiple injuries including a damaged ACL. Her advancement past the initial round represented a personal victory. ‘There were times when I thought I was not going to make it,’ Rodriguez revealed. ‘I’ve focused on taking it step-by-step.’

The ski mountaineering competition will conclude with a mixed team relay event on Saturday.

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO — The stage is set for thrilling men’s curling semifinals at the Milan Cortina Olympics following intense round-robin competitions. Canada will face Norway in a highly anticipated rematch after Norway’s decisive 8-6 victory earlier today, while undefeated Switzerland prepares to challenge Britain in Thursday evening’s critical matches.

Canadian skip Brad Jacobs drew parallels to historical precedents, noting the situation evokes “deja vu from Sochi” referencing the 2014 Winter Games where Canada faced China consecutively in round-robin and semifinal matches before ultimately claiming gold. “We’re experienced with this, done this a lot,” Jacobs stated. “Hopefully, we can get off to a better start tonight.”

The Swiss team enters the semifinals with an unblemished record, their confidence buoyed by strong team cohesion. Skip Yannick Schwaller emphasized the positive dynamics within his squad: “I would say it’s just a very good atmosphere in our group right now. Everybody is buying into what we’re doing.” Schwaller credited their success partly to the strategic guidance of renowned Canadian curler Glenn Howard, who joined as coach.

Britain secured their semifinal position with a 5-4 record, advancing following Canada’s loss to Norway. Meanwhile, defending gold medalists Sweden have been eliminated from contention, and the United States team saw their semifinal hopes vanish with Canada’s defeat.

On the women’s side, Sweden and Switzerland have already clinched semifinal berths. Sweden leads with seven wins against two losses (to Korea and Canada), while Switzerland follows closely with six victories and two defeats (to Japan and Sweden). Three nations—Canada, Korea, and the United States—remain tied for third place with identical 5-3 records, setting up a dramatic final round-robin session Thursday afternoon to determine the remaining two semifinal spots.

The men’s semifinals commence at 7:05 PM local time Thursday, with medal matches scheduled throughout the weekend. The women’s semifinals will follow on Friday afternoon, culminating in gold medal contests on Sunday morning.

KOLKATA, India — In their concluding Group C match of the T20 World Cup on Thursday, the West Indies, having already secured their advancement to the Super 8s, faced an Italian squad seeking to conclude its inaugural ICC global tournament on a high note. Italy’s captain, Harry Manenti, won the toss and elected to field first, hoping his bowlers could exploit any early swing in the daytime conditions at the venue.

Manenti continues to lead the Italian side after a tournament-ending shoulder injury to regular captain Wayne Madsen during their opening fixture. Despite losses to Scotland and England, the team garnered significant confidence from a stunning 10-wicket victory over Nepal. “We take some confidence from the England game and West Indies is another powerful team,” Manenti stated at the toss, expressing hope for early breakthroughs.

The West Indies, entering the match with an unchanged lineup from their dominant nine-wicket win over Nepal, boast a formidable top order. Captain Shai Hope, along with Shimron Hetmyer and Sherfane Rutherford, have all recorded half-centuries throughout the group stage, demonstrating aggressive and powerful batting form. Hope expressed a philosophical view on losing the toss, noting, “it’s not in our hands.”

In other tournament developments, Zimbabwe—the team responsible for eliminating Australia—was set to conclude its group stage against Sri Lanka in Colombo. Meanwhile, Afghanistan, fresh from a narrow double tiebreaker defeat to South Africa, prepared to meet Canada in its final Group D match.

VERONA, Italy — The historic Roman Arena in Verona, a monument dating back to 1 A.D., served as the magnificent backdrop for the final celebration of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics on Sunday. Approximately 1,500 athletes gathered within the ancient amphitheater for a closing ceremony titled “Beauty in Motion,” which blended athletic achievement with Italian cultural artistry.

Under the guidance of producer Alfredo Accatino, the production featured acclaimed ballet dancer Roberto Bolle and 350 volunteers who rehearsed secretly throughout the week. The conceptual framework explored beauty as a dynamic force, with Accatino explaining: “Beauty cannot be fixed in time. This ancient monument is beautiful if it is alive, if it continues to change. We want to narrate an Italy that is changing, and also the beauty of movement, sport, and nature.”

The ceremony showcased prominent Italian performers including singer Achille Lauro and DJ Gabry Ponte, whose music echoed through the ancient structure during preparations. Elaborate costumes inspired by opera traditions were meticulously crafted by seamstresses in temporary dressing rooms.

The production design incorporated a stage resembling a water droplet, symbolically connecting the mountain venues with the Po River Valley while acknowledging how climate change is transforming winter sports. The ceremony opened with athletes processing triumphantly through Piazza Bra into the Arena—a space that historically hosted gladiatorial combat and exotic animal hunts.

Maria Laura Iascone, head of ceremonies for the local organizing committee, explained Verona’s selection over the smaller Cortina d’Ampezzo: “Only Italians can use such monuments to do special events. This is very unique, very rare.” The event maintained an intimate atmosphere with approximately 12,000 attendees, contrasting with the 60,000 spectators at Milan’s San Siro stadium opening.

Logistical considerations included athletes traveling from six mountain venues, with some journeys lasting up to four hours. Environmental protections led to the replacement of traditional fireworks with a light show to prevent disturbing local wildlife.

The Arena, recently upgraded with wheelchair ramps and accessible facilities, will host the Paralympic opening ceremony on March 6, with events continuing in Milan and Cortina until March 15.