In a city that has already earned a place in Olympic history, Cortina d’Ampezzo is poised to become the epicenter of curling for the 2026 Winter Games. The town in the Dolomites is not only Italy’s first curling gold‑medalist home but also the setting for a venue that has seen Olympic ceremonies, a James Bond film, and the proud heritage of a sport that is still growing in the country.
Host City Advantage
Cortina d’Ampezzo is more than a picturesque alpine town; it is the birthplace of Italy’s most successful curler, Stefania Constantini. The defending mixed‑doubles champion, who won gold in Beijing with partner Amos Mosaner, is a natural ambassador for the sport. Mayor Gianluca Lorenzi, a former national team member and son of the sport’s founding father in Italy, is eager to showcase the city’s curling culture.
Lorenzi told The Associated Press, “I’m certainly going to have a reserved seat for every day of the competition.” He added that he would rather be at the curling venue than welcoming the various heads of state and VIPs expected in Cortina during the games.
Venue Heritage
The curling arena will be the wooden hall that hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1956 Olympics in Cortina and was also featured in the James Bond film “For Your Eyes Only.” Its historic walls have witnessed generations of athletes and now will echo with the thud of stones sliding on ice.
Constantini, who has been a resident of the town for years, said, “In Cortina, everybody (has) tried curling at least once.” Her mother, Monica Dalus, a city council member, keeps a close eye on her daughter’s progress. The mayor noted, “Whenever Stefi is competing, we message each other to keep track of her.”
Flag‑Bearer Contention
With the 2026 Winter Games opening ceremony split between Milan and Cortina, the International Olympic Committee has authorized Italy to have a total of four flag bearers: two in Milan and two in Cortina, one man and one woman in each location. Constantini’s status as a gold‑medalist makes her a logical choice to be one of the flag bearers for the Cortina portion of the ceremony.
At 26, Constantini remains relatively young for a curler. She told the AP, “I’m still at the start of my career and I’ve got many more goals that I want to achieve. There are many athletes who are further along in their careers, who have already won a ton and provided Italy with amazing emotions. So maybe they deserve this great honor.” “Of course, it would be a huge honor,” Constantini added. “But we haven’t heard anything yet.”
Italian media have speculated that Constantini and Mosaner will receive the honor, but no official announcement has been made.
Constantini’s Journey
Right up until her and Mosaner’s golden performance in Beijing, Constantini held a typical day job in downtown Cortina. She worked as a saleswoman in The North Face store on the pedestrian‑only Corso Italia, a job she kept until a month before the Beijing Games.
She described her life then as a “double life.” “While I was working in the store, I was also working on qualifying for the Olympics,” Constantini said.
The victory with Mosaner made Constantini the first Olympic champion from Cortina since bobsledder Eugenio Monti swept the two‑man and four‑man titles at the 1968 Grenoble Games. Monti’s legacy lives on in the town’s controversial sliding centre, named after him.
Constantini and Mosaner further cemented their status as the pairing to beat in mixed when they defeated Scotland— the country where curling originated— in the final of this year’s world championships.
Final Thoughts
Competing at home in Cortina, Constantini said, “will be the cherry on top of the cake.” As the 2026 Winter Games approach, the town’s history, the legacy of its athletes, and the iconic wooden arena all point to a memorable curling experience for athletes and fans alike.
Did you know a curling stone weighs about three bowling balls?
Key Takeaways
- Cortina d’Ampezzo, home of Italy’s first curling gold‑medalist, will host curling at the 2026 Winter Games.
- Mayor Gianluca Lorenzi is committed to attending every day of the competition and has a personal stake in the sport.
- Stefania Constantini, a 26‑year‑old gold‑medalist, is a strong candidate for one of Italy’s four flag‑bearers.
- Constantini’s journey from a saleswoman to Olympic champion underscores the growing popularity of curling in Italy.
- The wooden arena, steeped in Olympic and cinematic history, will serve as the curling venue for the games.
The 2026 Winter Games promise a blend of tradition, ambition, and local pride as Cortina d’Ampezzo steps onto the world stage once again.
