The 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics burst into action Thursday with early competitions across Italy’s stunning mountain venues, setting the stage for Friday’s grand opening ceremony that will officially launch 19 days of global athletic drama. While the flame lighting awaits, curling, ice hockey prelims and official training sessions delivered first thrills on Day -1, drawing packed crowds to Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo and beyond.

From mixed doubles curling at Cortina’s Olympic Stadium to women’s hockey clashes at Milan’s Rho Arena, action unfolded across four geographic clusters in this most distributed Games ever. With 116 events and over 3,000 athletes from 90 nations competing through Feb. 22, Milano Cortina promises snow-dusted spectacles blending Alpine tradition and modern flair.

Day -1 highlights: Curling and hockey steal early spotlight

Mixed doubles curling kicked off at 4:05 a.m. ET in Cortina, featuring matchups like GBR vs. SWE, NOR vs. USA and more in round-robin play. The U.S. squad battled Norway early, with stone precision deciding early standings in the 10-team field chasing gold on Day 16.

Women’s ice hockey prelims ignited at Rho Hockey Arena, pitting Sweden against Germany at 6:10 a.m. and USA vs. Czechia at 10:40 a.m. The Americans, defending champions, eyed a statement win ahead of powerhouse clashes with Canada and Finland later Thursday (3:10 p.m.). NHL stars like Alex Carpenter and Abbey Murphy bolster Team USA’s attack in Milano’s state-of-the-art venue.

Alpine skiers hit the Stelvio course in Bormio for men’s downhill training (5:30 a.m.), prepping notoriously steep terrain that will host super-G and downhill races. Luge singles training ran at Cortina Sliding Center (9:27 a.m. and 11 a.m.), where speeds top 130 kph on ice-lined tracks. Snowboard big air qualifiers loomed at 3:30 p.m. in Livigno, teasing gravity-defying tricks.​

Peacock streamed every session live, with NBC’s primetime coverage highlighting U.S. hopefuls.​

Milano Cortina by the numbers: Most compact yet expansive Games

Spanning venues the size of New Jersey across Milan (indoor sports), Valtellina (freestyle/snowboard), Cortina (Alpine/sliding) and Val di Fiemme (jumps/cross-country), Milano Cortina maximizes existing infrastructure. The opening ceremony at Milan’s San Siro Stadium Friday will feature 120,000 spectators, blending fashion-forward spectacle with Olympic tradition.

New sports debut: ski mountaineering (Feb. 13-15) tests endurance on 16km courses with 800m climbs, while mixed team events expand across disciplines. Six new medal events include women’s mono bobsleigh and freestyle skiing aerials team competitions.

Medal pace accelerates post-ceremony: Saturday’s Day 1 offers five golds led by men’s downhill (11:30 a.m.) and women’s skiathlon (1-2:50 p.m.). By Games end, 116 medals will crown champions through Feb. 22’s closing in Verona.​

U.S. medal contenders: Nathan Chen returns, Chloe Kim defends

Team USA fields 118 athletes targeting top-five finishes. Figure skating star Nathan Chen chases Olympic three-peat in Milan, partnering with Vincent Zhou and Madison Chock. Snowboard queen Chloe Kim defends halfpipe gold Feb. 12, facing Maddie Mastro and Hailey Langland.​

Alpine ace Mikaela Shiffrin hunts record 100th World Cup win en route to super-G (Feb. 11), downhill (Feb. 8) and slalom golds. Freestyle’s Eileen Gu and Gus Kenworthy lead aerials and moguls bids. Bobsled’s Elana Meyers Taylor eyes history in women’s mono debut.​

Hockey rosters shine: Men’s squad captained by Auston Matthews features Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel; women led by Kendall Coyne Schofield.​

Italy’s home heroes: Federica Brignone, Sofia Goggia

Hosts Italy boast 130 athletes, strongest in snow sports. Alpine queen Federica Brignone (downhill/super-G) and Sofia Goggia chase podiums on home slopes. Cross-country ace Federico Pellegrino eyes sprint gold; luger Andrea Vötter defends Cortina legacy.​

Opening ceremony co-stars Armani-clad athletes parade through Milan’s fashion district, symbolizing Italy’s style-sport fusion.​

Global storylines: Russia’s absence, China’s rise

Russia competes as neutrals (AIN) sans flag after doping bans, while China deploys 76 athletes led by Eileen Gu (now freestyle/ski cross). Norway’s 89 competitors defend overall titles; Germany’s 114 target biathlon dominance.​

Sustainability defines Milano Cortina: 99% legacy venues, carbon-neutral buses, plastic-free zones.​

Full Day -1 schedule highlights (all times ET)

• 4:05 a.m.: Curling mixed doubles (Cortina)​
• 5:30 a.m.: Men’s downhill training (Bormio Stelvio)​
• 6:10 a.m.: Women’s hockey: SWE-GER (Rho Milan)​
• 9:27-11 a.m.: Luge women’s singles training (Cortina)​
• 10:40 a.m.: Women’s hockey: USA-Czechia (Rho)​
• 11 a.m.: Ski jumping women’s HS106 training (Predazzo)​
• 1:05 p.m.: Curling mixed doubles cont.​
• 3:10 p.m.: Women’s hockey: FIN-CAN (Rho)​
• 3:30 p.m.: Snowboard big air qual. (Livigno)​

Friday’s opening ceremony fireworks

San Siro hosts 6 p.m. ET spectacle blending Milan’s Duomo projections, Cortina torch relay and 6,000 performers. Athletes parade via boats on Navigli canals; cauldron lighting rumored atop Duomo. IOC President Thomas Bach’s final Games precedes handover to LA 2028.​

Day 1 medals dawn Saturday: men’s downhill, women’s skiathlon, mixed doubles curling semis. Biathlon mixed relay (Feb. 8), snowboard halfpipe (Feb. 12) loom large.​

Milano Cortina 2026 launches amid Alpine majesty and Italian passion. From luge’s ice scream to ski jumping’s flight, the world’s elite chase immortality. Updates continue via Peacock, NBC throughout.

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A Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) is a vital electrical device that provides backup power during outages, ensuring that businesses continue to run smoothly without interruption.

In today’s fast-paced business environment, any downtime can lead to significant financial losses. A reliable UPS can prevent such disruptions, protecting vital systems and equipment from sudden power failures.

Organizations prioritize a UPS to safeguard equipment and reduce downtime because reliable backup power supports operational continuity during outages and voltage disturbances.

They focus on how a UPS keeps critical loads running long enough for safe shutdowns or seamless transfer to backup sources. Let’s explore 7 ways a UPS can prevent downtime in businesses and enhance operational reliability.

7 Ways a UPS Defends Your Business Against Power Failures

UPS systems provide businesses with an additional layer of protection against unexpected power failures, ensuring reliable performance for critical equipment.

1. Preventing Equipment Damage During Power Outages

Power failures can cause significant damage to sensitive electrical instruments and devices. A UPS provides backup power during these disruptions, allowing businesses to shut down equipment or switch to auxiliary power safely. This process helps protect valuable equipment from potential electrical damage due to sudden power interruptions.

2. Maintaining Data Integrity

For businesses that rely on data, such as financial institutions or IT companies, maintaining data integrity is paramount. A UPS ensures that during power fluctuations or failures, data remains uncorrupted and safe. The backup power provides enough time for systems to execute proper shutdown procedures, preventing data loss or corruption.

3. Ensuring Continuous Network Availability

For organizations that depend on uninterrupted internet access, a UPS is vital. Many businesses use cloud-based services and require continuous connectivity. By deploying UPS systems, businesses can ensure that their network infrastructure remains operational during power disruptions, avoiding delays in communication and work.

4. Supporting Critical Systems During Power Surges

Power surges can disrupt and damage sensitive electrical devices, causing them to malfunction. A UPS is designed to smooth out these surges, ensuring that only a stable voltage is provided to critical systems. By incorporating this system, businesses can safeguard their essential equipment from harmful power spikes, reducing the likelihood of equipment breakdowns.

5. Ensuring Uninterrupted Manufacturing Processes

In industries like manufacturing, continuous operations are essential. A power interruption can halt production lines, leading to delays and financial losses. With a UPS in place, manufacturing systems can continue to run smoothly, even when the main power supply is interrupted. This is especially important for industries where downtime can lead to high operational costs.

6. Extending the Life of Electrical Equipment

A UPS doesn’t just protect systems from power loss; it also utilizes Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR) to extend the life of electrical equipment by correcting sudden voltage fluctuations. By deploying this reliable power backup system, businesses can reduce wear and tear on their electrical equipment, ensuring longevity and fewer repairs.

7. Supporting Emergency Services and Safety Systems

In emergencies, such as fire alarms or security systems, having a reliable backup power supply is essential. A UPS can provide backup power to these critical safety systems, ensuring they remain operational during a power outage. This is especially important for businesses in sectors like healthcare, where uninterrupted operation of emergency equipment is non-negotiable.

Strengthening Your Business Resilience With Trusted UPS Solutions

UPS power supplies are essential for ensuring continuous operations and safeguarding critical infrastructure from power disruptions. They provide businesses with protection against data loss, reduce downtime, and extend equipment lifespan. By partnering with a reputable electrical brand, businesses can access high-quality, reliable UPS systems supported by professional maintenance services.

These systems are crucial for maintaining data integrity, protecting sensitive devices, and supporting an uninterrupted workflow. Explore advanced UPS solutions today to enhance your business resilience, prevent costly downtime, and keep your operations running smoothly, ensuring long-term success and stability in a power-dependent world.

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While a selloff in tech shares weighed on the market, 92 stocks in the S&P 500 hit one-year peaks, according to Dow Jones Market Data. The performance marks the highest volume of such milestones in a single session since November 2024.

Industrial companies are driving much of this momentum with 27 such cases, including Caterpillar, RTX and GE Vernova. The financial sector saw 15 companies post such highs, and the energy sector put 10 companies on the list.

Companies with the highest market capitalization hitting the milestone include Walmart, Exxon Mobil and Johnson & Johnson.

An award-winning tradesperson has announced plans to leave the UK for Switzerland, warning that rising employment taxes, shrinking apprenticeship support and mounting red tape are driving skilled workers and small business owners overseas.Martin Daly

, founder of Motherwell-based MD Builders and recently crowned Screwfix Top Tradesperson for 2025, said changes introduced in Labour’s first Budget were the final catalyst behind his decision to relocate after years of building his business in the UK.

Daly, 30, began his career as a joiner before setting up his own firm five years ago. Since then, he has employed and trained multiple apprentices, many of whom have gone on to establish their own businesses or pursue opportunities abroad. He now fears the UK risks accelerating a wider exodus of skilled tradespeople at a time when construction labour shortages are already acute.

He pointed to the rise in employers’ National Insurance contributions, increases in the National Living Wage and what he described as insufficient funding for apprenticeships as key pressures squeezing small firms.

“Those changes were the tipping point,” Daly said. “I want to grow a business and bring young people through, but I can’t afford to do that anymore. The costs don’t stack up.”

Under changes announced in the October Budget, employers will pay a 15 per cent National Insurance rate on salaries above £5,000 from April, up from 13.8 per cent on earnings above £9,100. The National Living Wage is also set to rise to £12.21 an hour.

Daly said the impact goes beyond payroll. He described a slowdown in available projects as firms rein in spending, alongside rising overheads driven by compliance and regulation. He also cited concerns about personal safety and quality of life as part of his decision to leave.

“I want to wake up and not worry about my van being broken into,” he said. “I want to know taxes are being used positively. And I want to feel safe walking at night. That’s not how Britain feels anymore.”

The builder has visited Switzerland several times and has already received job offers there, including work installing kitchens. He said he had also been approached by firms in Australia and the Middle East, regions actively targeting skilled UK tradespeople with visa schemes and relocation incentives.

Australia, for example, introduced a specialist construction visa programme in 2023, offering relocation support of up to £5,100 in some regions.

While Daly stressed that his decision was not solely about money, he said the contrast in incentives and support for apprentices abroad was stark. “Australia helps fund apprentices. Here, the whole apprenticeship system needs reform,” he said.

The concerns come as the UK construction sector faces mounting workforce pressures. The number of construction workers fell to around two million in late 2025, the lowest level in 25 years, with more than a third of the workforce now aged over 50. Industry estimates suggest more than 60,000 new workers are needed each year to meet housing targets.

The government has pledged to build 1.5 million new homes by the end of this parliament, but delivery remains under scrutiny. Independent forecasts suggest current build rates fall well short of that ambition, despite recent planning reforms designed to speed up approvals and increase density near transport hubs.

Daly acknowledged that pressures on trades had built up over multiple governments but warned the current policy mix risks accelerating departures just as skills shortages deepen.

“Unless we focus properly on young people, they’ll all leave,” he said. “If we don’t change, there won’t be anyone left to build the homes we need.”

Jamie Young

Jamie is Senior Reporter at Business Matters, bringing over a decade of experience in UK SME business reporting.
Jamie holds a degree in Business Administration and regularly participates in industry conferences and workshops.

When not reporting on the latest business developments, Jamie is passionate about mentoring up-and-coming journalists and entrepreneurs to inspire the next generation of business leaders.