What in the World Your guide to the Winter Olympics 2026
Feb 6, 2026
Verity Wilde, a figure skating enthusiast and editor, breaks down skating formats and standout routines. Emma Smith, BBC Sport reporter in Italy, gives on-the-ground updates about competing nations, event formats and controversial stories. They cover surprising participating countries, ski big air, curling basics, 1990s ice dance themes and disputes around ski jumping suits.
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Unexpected Countries Join The Winter Lineup
- The Games include expected powerhouses but also surprising entrants like Saudi Arabia, Jamaica and Haiti.
- Their participation broadens the Olympics' geographic reach and media narratives.
A Wide Mix Of Endurance And High-Risk Sports
- The Winter Games feature 16 sports mixing endurance and technical skill, including biathlon, luge and skeleton.
- Events like skeleton contrast with luge by going head-first, underscoring sport variety and risk.
Athletes' Personal Rituals For Fear Control
- Zoe Atkin uses her AI studies at Stanford to manage fear with a logic-based approach before big air events.
- Kirsty Muir calms herself by listening to the Foo Fighters' The Pretender as a competition ritual.