Plus, a Ukrainian athlete was barred from competition after refusing to give up his plan to race in a helmet commemorating athletes who have been killed since Russia invaded his country.

• Let the games begin: Italian President Sergio Mattarella declared the 2026 Winter Olympics open. Two cauldrons — one in Milan and one in Cortina — have been lit, marking a first in the Winter Games’ history.

The 2026 Winter Olympics kicked off last week in Milan, with a full slate of events, including alpine skiing, curling, ice hockey, and figure skating. And once again, Martha will be serving as an NBC correspondent at the Olympic Games with her friend Snoop Dogg.

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Soaring arias. Wrenching tragedy. Joyful triumphs. Exotic backdrops. Climaxes often designed to produce tears, sad or otherwise. Perhaps more than anything, the operas that Italians began creating 400 years ago are designed to make you feel.

Italian biathlete Rebecca Passler has been cleared to compete in the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics after a successful appeal to the Italian Anti-Doping Agency (NADO) following a failed drugs test last month.

Jannik Sinner’s relationship with the Italian fans has become fractured as of late. Leading Italy to two Davis Cup titles and reaching number one in the world, Sinner was beloved by all just a year ago.

Fresh snowfall during recent storms and wind-swept snowcaps on weak internal layers have created especially risky conditions, rescuers said.