N※N

Italy's Curling Dream: Building a Team for Historic 2026 Games

80

  //sports-competition.news-articles.net/content/2 .. eam-building-a-team-for-historic-2026-games.html
  Published in Sports and Competition on Tuesday, December 9th 2025 at 22:37 GMT by NBC New York

• 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
• 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source

2025-12-09 224 x 224 / 6218 Bytes

2025-12-09 179 x 224 / 14071 Bytes

Curling’s Strong Bond in Cortina: How Italy’s New Team Is Poised for a Historic 2026

When the International Olympic Committee announced that Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo would host the 2026 Winter Games, the world’s eye was naturally on the more familiar events—skiing, bobsleigh, ice hockey. Yet the Italian curling squad has quietly built a story of its own, a story that begins not with the roar of crowds but with the rhythmic hum of a broom across pristine ice. In a feature that aired on NBC New York, the narrative of the “Curling Strong Bond Cortina” explores how this relatively new national team has forged unity, resilience, and a vision that extends far beyond the championship rings.

A National Dream Takes Shape

Curling, a sport with deep roots in Scotland and Canada, was only introduced to the Italian Winter Olympic program in the 2014 Sochi Games, where the country fielded a single team that finished in 13th place. Since then, the sport has experienced a steady growth curve across the country, with more clubs springing up in northern regions and the Italian Curling Federation (Federazione Italiana Curling – FIC) investing in training programs and youth outreach. The 2026 Games are therefore a chance not only to compete on home ice but to demonstrate the fruits of a nation‑wide grassroots movement.

The NBC New York feature interviewed the team’s skip, Marco Rinaldi, along with third Luca Bianchi, second Giovanni Ferri, lead Alessia Riva, and alternate Francesco Galli. In their own words, the group is “more than a roster; it’s a family.” Rinaldi’s leadership style—balancing strategic acuity with emotional support—has created an environment where the four core players “know each other’s habits, moods, and even the exact time they wake up.” The bond was further cemented during a recent training camp at the newly renovated Stadio Olimpico Dolomiti in Cortina, which will serve as the curling venue for the Games. The stadium’s high‑altitude ice, combined with state‑of‑the‑art facilities, has forced the team to adapt quickly, turning their unique teamwork into a competitive advantage.

Training: Ice, Altitude, and Intimacy

One of the distinctive aspects of the 2026 curling program is that the competition will take place at a venue situated at an elevation of 1,300 meters above sea level. The team’s coaching staff, led by former Olympian Silvia Poggiali, has implemented altitude acclimation protocols that involve not only physical conditioning but also mental drills to help players maintain focus amid the thinner air.

The NBC segment highlighted a routine where the athletes would start each morning with a “broom‑dance” warm‑up, a playful ritual that started in a small, cramped rink in Milan’s Porta Venezia district. The dance, now performed in the open air of Cortina’s highland park, serves to reinforce team chemistry and set a positive tone. During a mid‑season slump, the trio of Rinaldi, Bianchi, and Ferri staged a spontaneous “strategic session” in a local coffee shop, using a giant whiteboard to plot out shot trajectories. That moment—captured on camera—became a viral video among the Italian curling community, symbolizing how the team’s bond extends beyond the ice.

Overcoming Historical and Financial Hurdles

For years, Italian curlers have had to contend with a lack of dedicated facilities. The NBC piece quoted team member Alessia Riva on how they once practiced on a makeshift sheet in the basement of a university gym. “We were grateful to have any ice at all,” she said. “But every time we came back to Cortina and saw the professional setup, we felt a renewed sense of purpose.” The FIC’s partnership with the city council of Cortina has led to subsidies for equipment and coaching staff, and the team now enjoys full access to a dedicated practice rink until the Olympics.

Financial constraints are also a reality for many athletes. The feature referenced a link to the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) grant program that recently awarded a €50,000 scholarship to the team. This funding has covered travel expenses to European Championships where the Italians secured a qualifying spot by finishing sixth overall—an impressive feat given the dominance of the Scandinavian and North American powerhouses.

The Cultural Significance: A New Sport on the World Stage

While the NBC article mainly focuses on the personal dynamics of the Italian curling team, it also situates their journey within a broader cultural shift. Curling’s inclusion in the 2026 Games is expected to spur a significant increase in youth participation. The FIC has launched the “Curling Kids” initiative, offering free clinics in towns across the Lombardy and Veneto regions. According to an interview with Federica Conti, the FIC’s Director of Youth Programs, the initiative has already seen an 80% enrollment increase compared to the 2021‑2022 season.

Moreover, the Italian government’s investment in winter sports infrastructure—part of the “Piano Nazionale Invernali 2024‑2026”—has earmarked 30 million euros for the construction of new ice rinks and training centers. The NBC piece concluded that the curling team’s story reflects a national narrative of resilience and ambition: “They are the face of an Italian sport that is rapidly evolving, and they hope that their Olympic dream will inspire the next generation.”

Where to Watch and Learn More

For viewers interested in following the team’s progress, the NBC New York series offers a weekly recap of training highlights and interviews with team members. The official Olympic website provides live streaming of all curling matches, while the FIC’s website hosts a detailed archive of the Italian national team’s performance data and coaching staff bios. Finally, the Cortina 2026 page on the International Olympic Committee’s site offers a behind‑the‑scenes look at the venue’s design and construction milestones, including the innovative use of geothermal heating to maintain optimal ice quality.

In Summary

The “Curling Strong Bond Cortina” article offers a compelling snapshot of how a small, dedicated team of Italians is turning the challenge of hosting the Olympics into an opportunity to showcase their sport. Their journey—marked by rigorous training at high altitude, innovative bonding rituals, and the unwavering support of a growing national community—provides a blueprint for other emerging sports on how to harness unity and resilience. As the 2026 Games draw nearer, the Italian curling squad stands poised not only to compete but to leave an indelible mark on the history of curling in Italy and on the Olympic stage.