Athletes compete during the curling mixed doubles round robin session 1 match of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in Cortina D'Ampezzo, Italy, Feb. 4, 2026. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)
CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Britain, Sweden, Canada and Switzerland secured opening victories as mixed doubles curling competition got underway on Wednesday, two days ahead of the official opening of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
Lights in the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium, originally built for the 1956 Winter Olympics, suddenly went out just 10 minutes after the competition began, plunging the venue into darkness. After a 90-second interruption, the lights came back, drawing warm applause from athletes and spectators.
Britain's Jennifer Dodds and Bruce Mouat displayed steady execution and balanced shot-making to defeat Beijing 2022 silver medalists Kristin Skaslien and Magnus Nedregotten of Norway 8-6.
Sweden's sibling duo Rasmus and Isabella Wranaa, the 2024 world champions, rallied from early deficits of 0-1 and 2-3 to overwhelm South Koreans Kim Seon-yeong and Jeong Yeong-seok 10-3. It marked Kim's third appearance at the Winter Olympic Games.
Canadians Jocelyn Peterman and Brett Gallant posted a 10-5 win over Julie Zelingrova and Vit Chabicovsky of the Czech Republic, while Switzerland couple Briar Schwaller-Huerlimann and Yannick Schwaller edged Estonia's Marie Kaldvee and Harri Lill 9-7.
Host nation Italy, led by reigning Olympic champions Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner, will open their campaign against South Korea on Thursday.
The mixed doubles final is scheduled for February 10, followed by the men's tournament from February 11-21 and the women's competition on February 12-22. ■
Harri Lill of Estonia competes during the curling mixed doubles round robin session 1 match between Estonia and Switzerland of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in Cortina D'Ampezzo, Italy, Feb. 4, 2026. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)
Isabella Wranaa (R) and Rasmus Wranaa of Sweden compete during the curling mixed doubles round robin session 1 match between Sweden and South Korea of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in Cortina D'Ampezzo, Italy, Feb. 4, 2026. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)
Isabella Wranaa and Rasmus Wranaa (front) of Sweden compete during the curling mixed doubles round robin session 1 match between Sweden and South Korea of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in Cortina D'Ampezzo, Italy, Feb. 4, 2026. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)
Bruce Mouat of Britain competes during the curling mixed doubles round robin session 1 match between Norway and Britain of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in Cortina D'Ampezzo, Italy, Feb. 4, 2026. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)
Jocelyn Peterman (L) and Brett Gallant of Canada compete during the curling mixed doubles round robin session 1 match between Canada and the Czech Republic of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in Cortina D'Ampezzo, Italy, Feb. 4, 2026. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)
Brett Gallant of Canada competes during the curling mixed doubles round robin session 1 match between Canada and the Czech Republic of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in Cortina D'Ampezzo, Italy, Feb. 4, 2026. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)
People prepare ahead of the curling mixed doubles round robin session 1 match of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in Cortina D'Ampezzo, Italy, Feb. 4, 2026. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)
Athletes warm up prior to the curling mixed doubles round robin session 1 match of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in Cortina D'Ampezzo, Italy, Feb. 4, 2026. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)
