The Winter Olympics are a bit of an enigma to most sports fans in the United States. The average person has seen hockey, the understand figure skating, and we get enough extreme sports through osmosis that the snowboard half pipe makes sense — but a lot of the events are more Euro-centric.

For many decades, Olympic Games included "demonstration sports." Some, like curling, became part of the permanent roster. But others, like skijoring, didn't stick around.

The 2026 Winter Olympics are being hosted by both Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, a ski town near Italy's border with Austria. This is the first time the Olympics, in either season, has had two official host cities.

Check out the full list of sports, disciplines and new events at the Winter Olympics in 2026.

Interest in the winter Olympics is sparking excitement at Muskegon Luge Adventure Sports Park ahead of Friday’s opening ceremony.