The countdown is on for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. The torch relay is already underway and some of the top athletes are already making headlines. There are 16 sports in all, including some never seen before, and 116 gold medals are waiting to be awarded.

The Olympic flame for the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics officially has begun its long and storied relay toward Milan’s San Siro Stadium, where it will light the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony on February 6, 2026.

In a December 15 Instagram post, the legendary Mariah Carey announced that she will be performing at the February 6 Opening Ceremony, a moment that will be broadcast live as part of NBC and Peacock's coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

· Served as an NBC Olympics correspondent in Paris in 2024, and as skateboarding reporter at the Tokyo Olympics. She won a Sports Emmy as part of NBCUniversal’s coverage in Paris, which was honored as Outstanding Live Special – Championship Event. · As a competitor, was a four-time X Games medalist (two gold) in big air and snowboard cross.

The mixed doubles curling field is set for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, with Korey Dropkin and Cory Thiesse representing the United States.

Mariah Carey is officially taking her presence beyond Christmas, with her followers already in complete celebration mode.

U.S. Olympians Elana Meyers Taylor and Gabby Thomas participated in a social video, drawing a throughline between their respective health missions and Eli Lilly’s ongoing support of Team USA.

NHL players are planning to participate in the 2026 Winter Olympics for the first time since 2014 after the NHL, the NHL Players' Association and the International Ice Hockey Federation came to an agreement back in February 2024. The agreement also mentions NHL player participation in the 2030 games, though it does not guarantee it.