The 2026 Winter Olympics sports program opened with the first curling matches scheduled in Italy‘s Cortina on Wednesday night, two days before the official opening ceremony.

Several hundred spectators watched as eight teams unpacked their equipment in the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium.

The matches had barely begun when a brief power outage blacked out the scoreboards for the matchups between Sweden and South Korea, Great Britain and Norway, Canada and the Czech Republic, and Estonia and Switzerland.

The officials paused the matches when the lights dimmed and flickered, and when the main lights and heat in the nearby media center went out.

However, the curlers continued sliding on the ice to stay ready, and the fans cheered when the bright lights returned soon after and play resumed.

The organizers acknowledged the brief interruption to the competition “due to an energy-related issue” and noted that it lasted approximately three minutes.

First Olympic results

The British pair of Bruce Mouat and Jennifer Dodds started their journey with an 8-6 victory over the Norwegians. Sweden, Canada, and Estonia also won their opening matches.

The reigning Olympic champions in the mixed doubles, Italy, will begin their bid for gold against South Korea on Thursday.

The opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics on Friday will primarily take place at the San Siro football stadium in Milan. Three other venues will host the traditional parade of athletes, reflecting the widespread nature of this year’s Olympics.

The Games will use a variety of existing venues, stretching 350 kilometers (217 miles) across northern Italy from Cortina to Milan.

Edited by: Sean Sinico

Pep Guardiola said Manchester City will ask the Football League for permission to play Marc Guehi in the Carabao Cup final after they breezed past Newcastle to set up a showdown with Arsenal.

The ineligible Guehi had to watch from the sidelines as City beat the Magpies 3-1 in the second leg at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night, completing a 5-1 aggregate win.

While fellow new boy Antoine Semenyo could play, Guehi was ineligible because he joined City after the first leg against Newcastle took place – and the rules mean the England international will be ineligible again come the final on March 22.

Guardiola acknowledged he did not expect City to be successful, but said they will make their case regardless.

“Why should he not play? Why not?” Guardiola said. “He’s our player, we pay his salary, we hired him…

“We want to ask. I said to the club we have to ask definitely. I don’t understand the reason why he cannot play in the final of the Carabao Cup in March when he has been here a long time…

“Of course we are going to ask because it’s pure logic. (But) to change the rule, no way. But we will try.”

Omar Marmoush was the star for City as he scored the opening two goals of the night before Tijjani Reijnders added a third, all inside 35 minutes.

Guardiola would have been concerned by the number of chances Newcastle created after the break, but with Anthony Elanga’s 62nd-minute strike the only one they converted, City were never overly troubled.

The win continues City’s run of having played at Wembley at least once every season since 2010-11.

“I do not take it for granted,” Guardiola said. “I know how difficult it is. I don’t know how many semi-finals and finals we have played in the FA Cup but it’s really good, and in 10 years five Carabao Cup finals so it’s really good: top, top, top.”

Marmoush, who previously scored a hat-trick against Newcastle, once again grabbed his chance against the Magpies with Erling Haaland starting on the bench.

“He gives us a special quality,” Guardiola said of the Egyptian. “His pace, his moments in behind, and his work ethic.”

Newcastle arrived in Manchester trailing 2-0 from the opening leg and knowing a strong start was essential.

Instead, they found themselves quickly 3-0 down and effectively out of it.

“(I was) really annoyed with the first half display,” boss Eddie Howe said. “We pride ourselves on being really organised and tactically we want to be able to handle any problem the opposition gives us. That first half we weren’t good enough individually and our duels were off and it gave us huge problems.”

To add to Howe’s worries, Anthony Gordon was forced off before half-time.

“It looks like a hamstring problem,” Howe said. “I don’t qute know how bad it was but it was enough for him to come off so that’s a big worry.”

The Maryland Freedom Caucus, a group of GOP delegates in the Maryland state legislature, made a post on social media showing a sign that appeared to have been hung by Democrat colleagues, dismissing concerns over trans athletes in women’s sports. 

The post claimed the sign was hung Wednesday, which was National Women & Girls in Sports Day. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

The sign, which has a signature from the Maryland Legislative LGBTQ+ Caucus, was hung on the offices of Democrat state delegates Eric Ebersole and Nick Allen.

The sign makes the unsubstantiated point that “trans women have no competitive advantage,” in women’s sports. In 2021, the British Journal of Sports Medicine published a study that said transgender women maintain an advantage over biological women even after a year of hormone therapy treatment.

EDUCATION DEPT LAUNCHES 18 TITLE IX PROBES AFTER SCOTUS HEARS ARGUMENTS IN EFFORTS TO PROTECT WOMEN’S SPORTS

Democrats who voted down a bill to protect trans athletes in sports. (Fox News)

The sign also went on to state, “anti-dignity policies put transgender youth at risk,” “banning transgender youth is illegal,” and “invasive enforcement creates fear.” 

Fox News Digital has reached out to Ebersole, Allen and the Maryland Legislative LGBTQ+ Caucus for a response. 

The post and apparent sign comes a day before the Maryland state legislature is set to vote on the Fairness in Girls’ Sports Act.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The bill would require “certain interscholastic and intramural junior varsity and varsity athletic teams or sports sponsored by certain schools and certain locker rooms to be expressly designated based on biological sex; prohibiting certain entities from taking certain adverse actions against a school for maintaining separate interscholastic and intramural junior varsity and varsity athletic teams or sports or locker rooms for students of the female sex.” 

So far, 27 states in the U.S. have similar laws in effect that enforce bans on trans athletes in girls’ sports. 

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

With the new ice hockey arena in Milan and the new ice rink in Cortina both finished just in time, the 25th Winter Olympics can begin.

Cortina d’Ampezzo is hosting the Olympics for the second time. Seventy years ago, in 1956, the seventh edition of the Games was held entirely in the winter sports resort in the Italian Dolomites.

What are the key dates and sports for the 2026 Winter Games?

The Games will officially open on February 6 at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium in Milan, better known as San Siro, where Inter and AC Milan usually play football. The arena can seat 75,000 spectators. The first competitions will begin two days before the opening ceremony, on February 4, with curling.

A total of around 2,900 athletes (47% of whom are women) from more than 90 countries will compete for a total of 116 gold, silver and bronze medals. Germany will be represented by 188 winter athletes, more than ever before at the Winter Games.

Ski mountaineering will be an Olympic sport for the first time. The competitions will mostly be held on circular courses. The athletes will climb the slope with the bottom of their skis covered in climbing skins, synthetic fabric that prevents sliding down. At the top, they will remove the skins and then ski down.

Ice hockey, figure skating, speed skating, and short track will take place in Milan, while women’s alpine skiing, luge, bobsleigh, skeleton and curling will be in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Other locations in northeastern Italy are also included. The biathlon in Antholz, Livigno will host freestyle skiing and snowboarding, and Bormio and Val di Fiemme will share men’s alpine skiing and ski mountaineering. This means that the Games will not be short-distance: Milan and Antholz are 350 kilometers (217 miles) apart.

The 2026 Winter Games will end on February 22 with the closing ceremony in the evocative ampitheater known as Verona Arena, which has a capacity of 12,000 and lies to the east of Milan.

Are Russian and Belarusian athletes allowed to compete?

As was the case at the 2024 Summer Games in Paris, only individual athletes are allowed to compete — and only if they have no ties to the army or security services, and have not publicly spoken out in favor of Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine. Only then are they considered “neutral.” In addition, they must have qualified for the Olympics in their respective sports. A three-member IOC review panel grants any final permission to compete.

According to information from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), 13 winter athletes from Russia and seven from Belarus are expected to participate (as of January 29, 2026). At the Summer Games in Paris in 2024, 15 athletes from Russia and 17 from Belarus were admitted as neutral athletes.

In December, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) overturned the exclusion of “neutral” Russian and Belarusian skiers from Olympic qualifications.

At the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing, 216 Russians were only allowed to compete under a neutral flag, but for a different reason: the state-sponsored doping system in Russia had been uncovered. The Russian invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, 2022, four days after the end of the Games in Beijing.

Who will be responsible for security during the Games?

According to the IOC, security is “the responsibility of the host country’s authorities, who will work closely with the participating delegations.” Reportedly, around 6,000 police and other security personnel will be on duty. By comparison, more than 50,000 were deployed at the Games in Paris.

The announcement that officials from the controversial US immigration agency ICE would also be sent to the Olympic Games to ensure the safety of US guests of honor made headlines around the world. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have announced their visit, but President Donald Trump has not yet done so.

However, the US ambassador to Italy, Tilman J. Fertitta, said that the ICE officers would be deployed “only in an advisory and intelligence capacity, without patrolling or enforcement measures.”

This is likely in reference to the Homeland Security Investigations unit, which is a unit within ICE that focuses on cross-border crimes. It frequently sends officers to events like the Olympics to help with security, and they are completely seperate from those currently at the forefront of the immigration crackdown in the US. Nevertheless, the news of any ICE presence has increased tension in Italy.

How are the doping controls carried out?

As in Beijing in 2022, the IOC has commissioned the Switzerland-based International Testing Authority (ITA) to carry out doping tests in most sports. Pre-Olympic controls began at the end of October, with a further 3,000 tests planned during the Games in Milan and Cortina. For the first time, baggage checks will be carried out at airports with the aim of seizing suspicious substances.

However, the world federations for skiing, biathlon, ice hockey and curling are not cooperating with the ITA, but are organizing doping controls in their respective sports themselves.

Urine and blood samples will be stored for up to ten years so that doping offenders can still be exposed later using possible new analysis methods. The CAS will have its own office on site during the Games so that it can quickly rule on doping offenses.

Will the 2026 Games be a success?

That depends on many factors. According to the organizing committee, more than half of the tickets had already been sold by the beginning of November 2025. Prices range from €30 ($36) to €2,900 for the most expensive ticket for the closing ceremony in Verona. Atmosphere will likely play a key role in gauging the success of the Games.

For particularly popular events such as the alpine skiing competitions, only expensive tickets, or so-called hospitality packages, are still available. For €3,500 you get a ticket, brunch and other special services.

Concerns about shady deals ahead of 2026 Winter Olympics

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

It remains to be seen whether the organizers will ultimately be in the black at the end of the month. The budget for the Olympic and subsequent Paralympic Games in Milan and Cortina is around €1.6 billion. According to official figures, the last Winter Games in Beijing cost €3.3 billion, but researchers at Oxford University in England calculated in a study that the cost was more than double that amount (€7.33 billion).

Advertisement

This article was originally written in German.

As a gear-free agent, Justin Rose can pick whatever clubs he wants to play, and the irons he chooses make gear nerds salivate.

After spending last year with a split set involving Titleist 620 CB long irons, Rose has now moved into a full set of Miura irons, split between the new TC-202 cavity backs and the MC-502 blades in the short irons.

That blended iron set was dialed last week at the Farmers Insurance Open, as Rose was second in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach, on his way to a seven-shot win.

Advertisement

Miura TC-202 Custom Irons

Advertisement

View Product

The TC-202 is one of the newest additions to the Miura lineup, replacing the highly successful TC-201, which was the last Miura iron to win on the PGA Tour before Rose’s victory last summer at the FedEx St. Jude Championship.

A new T-Weight Bar in the back cavity combines the heel-toe weighting that made the TC-201 so forgiving with the center mass distribution found in the CB 57. By placing the mass right behind the sweet spot, the T-Weight Bar helps optimize both trajectory control and the sound and feel of the TC-202.

The TC-202s also have a progressive CG that gets lower as you go down through the set, which is why Rose chooses them for his 4-, 5- and 6-iron to help launch the ball in the air.

Meanwhile, his MC-502 short irons are a set of blades that focus on playability, two things that usually don’t go hand-in-hand. But the notch along the back of the iron moves mass lower, where it’s more useful, while allowing the club to keep a compact profile.

Miura MC-502 Custom Irons

New to the MC-502 is an increase in face progression (less offset), which has always been a welcomed look for the better player. Additionally, a softer, more rounded top line and toe profile found their way from the sketch pad to the final product. The result is an iron that is easy to align while delivering an unrivaled level of confidence and playability.
There were no compromises when it came to the new design. The sound, feel and performance, which have been hallmarks of Miura irons since 1957, embodied the finished product.
MATERIALPremium S20C Soft Carbon Steel
FINISHSatin Chrome

Advertisement

View Product

Both irons feature Miura’s Y-Grind, which has a pre-worn leading edge for better turf interaction.

Think the MC-502 or TC-202 (or both) might be a good fit for you ,or just got fit into them and ready to pull the trigger? Check out the MC-502 or TC-202 on Fairway Jockey where you can customize every piece of your build and rest assured that what you order is what you get.

Want to overhaul your bag for 2026? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

“>

Lionel Messi has been linked with a surprise move to Galatasaray, a transfer that could see him play alongside Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen at the Turkish club.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is currently on a break from competitive football, with the new Major League Soccer season set to begin on February 21.

With the 2026 World Cup drawing closer, Messi is believed to be considering a short spell outside the United States to stay fit and sharp ahead of the tournament.

Reports in Turkey claim that talks have already taken place between Galatasaray and the Argentine star. Messi is said to be open to a four-month deal that would see him play 12 matches for the club.

However, the move would depend on a key condition. Messi is reportedly only willing to play matches in Istanbul and does not want to feature in away games. He is said to prefer playing exclusively at RAMS Park.

It is also claimed that Messi turned down an offer from Saudi club Al Hilal, as he is keen to avoid injuries before the World Cup.

Galatasaray are believed to have opened discussions with Messi and his representatives as they explore the possibility of completing the deal before the transfer window closes on Thursday.

The Turkish champions have six home matches left in the league, one home game in the Turkish Cup group stage and a home tie in the UEFA Champions League play-off against Juventus. It is unclear if Messi would be willing to play the away leg against the Italian side if the move goes through.

Galatasaray are currently assessing whether the deal is realistic, with talks said to be moving quickly.

If completed, Messi would team up with Osimhen, who has become a key player at the club. Osimhen helped Galatasaray win a domestic double in the 2024/25 season, scoring 37 goals in 47 matches across all competitions.

Messi, on his part, led Inter Miami to their first-ever MLS Cup title in 2025.

Galatasaray currently sit top of the Turkish Super Lig with 49 points, three ahead of rivals Fenerbahce, with 14 matches still to play.

The club’s president has previously hinted that a move for Messi was not impossible, insisting that Galatasaray’s financial position and growing success allow them to dream big.

Arsenal moved a step closer to ending their long wait for major silverware after edging past Chelsea to book a place in the Carabao Cup final.

Holding a 3–2 advantage from the first leg, the Gunners completed the job with a dramatic late goal in a tense second-leg clash at the Emirates Stadium.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the seventh minute of added time when substitute Kai Havertz kept his composure to score the winner. The German forward skipped past goalkeeper Robert Sanchez before calmly finishing to spark wild celebrations among the home fans.

Mikel Arteta’s side will now face either Manchester City or Newcastle United in next month’s final at Wembley, as they chase their first major trophy since 2020.

Arsenal began the match on the front foot but found clear chances hard to come by in the opening half, with Chelsea setting up in a defensive back five. The visitors stayed compact and frustrated the hosts for long periods.

Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior tried to change the momentum just after the hour mark by introducing attacking options, including Cole Palmer, but Arsenal remained organised and rarely looked troubled at the back.

As the game drifted towards extra time, Arsenal continued to push, and their persistence was rewarded in the dying moments. Havertz, recently back from injury, showed sharpness and confidence to deliver the decisive goal and secure a 4–2 aggregate victory.

The Gunners last lifted a major trophy when they beat Chelsea in the FA Cup final in Arteta’s first season in charge. They had not reached the League Cup final since 2018.

This latest success underlines Arsenal’s progress this season. They sit top of the Premier League, remain active in other cup competitions and now have a clear chance to turn their strong form into silverware.

With a settled squad and growing belief, Arteta’s side will head to Wembley hopeful that this could be the start of a trophy-winning chapter.

If you think the Minnesota Vikings are “running it back” with their coaching staff, that just isn’t the case. Over the last few weeks, the club has lost six coaches and counting, mostly to promotions, while head coach Kevin O’Connell continues to backfill the positions.

Six departures have piled up, forcing Minnesota to reshuffle some jobs early in the 2026 offseason.

Yes, O’Connell’s coaching tree is germinating.

Six Departures Change O’Connell’s Staff

The 2026 offseason didn’t skimp on purple coaching changes.

Brian Angelichio (offensive passing game)

New Job: Pittsburgh Steelers Offensive Coordinator

Angelichio departed Minnesota on Wednesday, heading to Mike McCarthy’s new staff in Pittsburgh. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweeted, “The Steelers are finalizing a deal to hire Vikings passing game coordinator Brian Angelichio as their new offensive coordinator, per me and Tom Pelissero. Angelichio, also the TEs coach, is back with coach Mike McCarthy. They were together in Green Bay.”

It’s the top job Angelichio has held in college and professional football through 30 years, and he’ll inherit a stout offensive line, along with wide receiver DK Metcalf, running back Jaylen Warren — and perhaps even Aaron Rodgers.

Minnesota will need a new passing game coordinator on offense.

Marcus Dixon (defensive line)

New Job: Dallas Cowboys Defensive Line Coach

Dixon’s contract wasn’t renewed this offseason; he evidently stayed his welcome. But in Dallas, he’ll work for Brian Schottenheimer and notably lead defensive tackles like Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark. Life would be easier for Dixon if Micah Parsons still patrolled Dallas’s defense, but that’s not possible after the Cowboys shipped him to Green Bay five months ago.

Ryan Nielson, who interviewed for the Vikings’ defensive coordinator position in 2023, will take over Dixon’s spot after notably coordinating the Jacksonville Jaguars’ defense in 2024.

Michael Hutchings (safeties)

New Job: University of California Defensive Coordinator

Hutchings actually left town in December before the end of the regular season, jumping at the chance to lead the Cal Bears’ defense.

SI.com‘s Jeff Faraudo wrote around Christmas, “New Cal football coach Tosh Lupoi continues to assemble a young staff of assistants, officially announcing the hiring on Friday of Minnesota Vikings assistant Michael Hutchings as the Bears’ defensive coordinator.”

“Hutchings, a Bay Area native who was a prep All-American at De La Salle High School and played linebacker at USC, comes to Cal later three seasons coaching defensive backs with the Vikings, the past two years as safeties coach. In that role, he worked with former Cal star Cam Bynum, who had three interceptions during the 2024 NFL season.”

The Vikings’ safety job remains vacant in early February.

Daronte Jones (defensive passing game)

New Job: Washington Commanders Defensive Coordinator

Perhaps the biggest news of this coaching style — after Brian Flores signing an extension to remain with the Vikings — Jones will get his crack at an NFL defense all by himself. He spent five seasons in Minnesota, but left for a year in 2021 to coach LSU’s defense.

Jones won’t walk into a dream situation, yet he’ll have the tutelage of head coach Dan Quinn, who comes from a staunch defensive background.

These players are already on Jones’s depth chart: Trey Amos (CB), Javon Kinlaw (DT), Frankie Luvu (LB), Jer’Zhan Newton (DT), Daron Payne (DT), Jeremy Reaves (S), and Mike Sainristil (CB).

Minnesota hired Steelers defensive backs coach Gerald Alexander to replace Jones. SteelersNow‘s Chris Ward on Alexander: “Alexander is a big loss for the Steelers, especially with how cornerback Joey Porter Jr. developed under his stewardship.”

“He spent the 2024 season with the Las Vegas Raiders as a safeties coach under defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, who’s now the DC with the Steelers. Alexander will work under defensive coordinator Brian Flores in Minnesota. Flores was a finalist for the Steelers’ head coach position.”

Chris Kuper (offensive line)

New Job: N/A

The Vikings’ offensive line underachieved in 2025, even after formulating a formidable fivesome that included Christian Darrisaw, Donovan Jackson, Ryan Kelly, Will Fries, and Brian O’Neill. Injuries rattled the unit, too, and the trenches never really found their groove.

So, O’Connell did not renew Kuper’s contract, and he remains a coaching free agent.

Assistant offensive line coach Keith Carter accepted a promotion to Kuper’s spot last month.

Mike Pettine (assistant head coach)

New Job: N/A

Pettine retired a few weeks ago and claimed he may return to the NFL in time. He later revealed in an interview with a Cleveland Browns-themed podcast that he and the aforementioned Flores didn’t see eye to eye, which is probably why Pettine exited stage left.

O’Connell used Pettine on the offensive side of the coaching staff in 2025 because Pettine couldn’t deal with Flores, or so he implied on the podcast.

Pettine originally joined the Vikings at the dawn of the O’Connell era in 2022.

The Miami Dolphins’ offensive coordinator for the last four seasons, Frank Smith, has taken over for Pettine as assistant head coach, and many believe Smith will force the Vikings to run the football more often and more efficiently. They need it.