The Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina promise a mix of fierce competition, geopolitical tension, and quirky subplots. From ice hockey's return of NHL stars to a bizarre scandal involving Norwegian ski jumpers' crotch stitching, here are ten key storylines to watch.
Norway's ski jump team is recovering from 'Groin-gate', where two gold medallists were banned for three months after a coach tampered with jumpsuit crotch stitching at the Nordic world championships. New rules now require 3D measurements of all athletes before competition.
Ice hockey returns with NHL players for the first time since 2014, setting up a potentially explosive Canada-USA rivalry. The Four Nations opener last year saw three fights in nine seconds. Russia is banned, but neutral athletes from Russia and Belarus will compete after background checks by a panel including a retired Japanese gymnastics coach and former NBA player Pau Gasol.
In women's skeleton, a qualification row has erupted after Canadian coach Joe Cecchini withdrew his own athletes to secure a spot for one of them, blocking USA's Katie Uhlaender from her sixth Olympics. Uhlaender has taken her case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and called on US Vice-President JD Vance to intervene.
Canada is flexing soft power by having Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, stars of the gay romance series 'Heated Rivalry', carry the Olympic torch. A replica of the show's national team fleece worn by Williams's character is now on sale, with Prime Minister Mark Carney already sporting his.
Norway's Johannes Høsflot Klæbo could make history by winning six gold medals at a single Winter Games, after a clean sweep of all six events at last year's world championships. The 15-day competition in Italy offers him a chance to become one of the most decorated Olympians ever. Meanwhile, ski mountaineering makes its debut as the latest obscure sport on the roster.
