The Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina experienced a power outage just 10 minutes after the commencement of the games, causing a temporary pause in the proceedings. The competition kicked off with curling, but participants had to wait as the lights suddenly went off.
While the official Opening Ceremony at the San Siro was scheduled for Friday, some events, including the first mixed doubles round robin matches in curling, had already begun. However, play was interrupted due to a power failure at the Olympic Ice Stadium during a match between Britain’s Bruce Mouat and Jen Dodds against Norway.
Despite the disruption, the British curlers maintained a positive attitude, with Dodds even laughing during the delay while officials worked to resolve the issue. Commentator Steve Cram from BBC, finding humor in the situation, mentioned the power cut affecting the scoring screens and some lights at the stadium.
After a brief delay of approximately five minutes, the crowd cheered as the lights came back on, allowing the competition to resume. Dodds and Mouat eventually secured an 8-6 victory, starting the round robin phase on a high note, with Mouat jokingly referring to the power outage as a fun dance moment.
Looking ahead, UK Sport aims for a potential increase in medal count compared to previous Winter Games, with up to eight medals targeted following substantial funding support from the National Lottery and the government. The investment of over £32.5m in the current four-year cycle reflects the ambition to enhance the UK’s presence in winter sports.
Eve Muirhead OBE, a gold medalist from the Beijing 2022 Games who has transitioned into a leadership role within Team GB, is leading the delegation as Chef de Mission for Milan-Cortina 2026. She expressed confidence in the team’s capabilities and highlighted the opportunity to challenge the existing norms in winter sports, emphasizing the squad’s potential despite some challenges in accessing snow and ice facilities.
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