The first Olympics since the re-election of US President Donald Trump are set to be buffeted by global turbulence. Olympic power Russia's team of just 13 must compete as neutrals, a sanction imposed by the International Olympic Committee after Moscow invaded Ukraine weeks after the last Winter Games in Beijing in 2022. Also eagerly awaited is the men's ice hockey competition, with stars from the National Hockey League (NHL) in the US and Canada -- the world's strongest -- taking part for the first time since 2014. Coventry admitted that the approach of using existing venues, which are often long distances apart, has complicated the task for organisers. Two of the new venues, the sliding centre in Cortina for the bobsleigh, skeleton and luge events and the main ice hockey arena in Milan have caused the most headaches.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha February 03, 2026 03:48 UTC