By Stella Hayutin

Imagine you're about to do your Olympic run, the moment you’ve been training for your entire life. You turn up the music in your helmet, clicking once, then twice, before the song “Confidence” by Demi Lovato starts playing. A million thoughts are racing through your head before you stare down the ski jump on top of the snowy hill. That's how skiers in the Winter Olympics feel.

The Winter Olympics have been hosted in France, Austria, Norway, Japan, and Switzerland. This year, the 2026 Winter Olympics were hosted in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. The Winter Olympics were held from February 6th to February 22, 2026. Speaking of Italy, a major issue has recently erupted in the media. Was Italy ready and able to host the 2026 Winter Olympics?

Italy was facing last-minute challenges with the sliding center in Cortina because of construction delays, and the lack of snow in Italy was making it difficult to get skiing and snowboarding events ready to go.

Additionally, the Winter Olympics were sparking fury in the media because recently, ICE was confirmed to be in the 2026 Winter Olympics. ICE stands for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ICE was the cause of the recent killing of Alex Pretti in Minnesota. As the days have gone on, our society has become more and more angered by ICE, and so ICE's coming to the Winter Olympics was the tipping point. Furthermore, it's not just Americans protesting against ICE; Italians are now too. They do not want ICE to be in their cities, and many states say that ICE agents are “not welcome.” A New York Times Article states that, “ ICE agents will attend the Winter Games but do not have the authority to conduct enforcement operations in other countries and will not attempt to do so.” However, this brings little comfort to Americans and Italians.  Additionally, Europeans are now urging the EU to block ICE from coming to the Winter Olympics because they question the agency’s actions. The issue of ICE coming to the Winter Olympics has now spread worldwide.

Furthermore, in Italy’s preparations for the Winter Olympics, there was protests, including clashes between police and demonstrators in Milan, highlighting opposition to the Games' cost and environmental impact. Creating more problems for Italy as they rush to get the Winter Olympics ready on time. 

Lindsey Von, an 41 year old  Olympic downhill racer, injured her left knee days before the Olympics took place in the World Cup Race in Crans-Montana. Vonn competed in her last race before the Olympics and had a devastating crash that led her to be airlifted out of the race course, clutching her left knee. Many people speculated whether she would be able to make a debut in the Olympics, but Vonn assured everyone that she would make a comeback. This was the third crash in the World Cup Race. Lindsey Vonn made a statement, “My Olympic Dreams are not over” (AP News).  It has been confirmed that Vonn had ruptured her ACL completely and will still be competing in the Olympics with a knee brace. She is doing the impossible, and many are sending their thoughts out to Lindsey Vonn as she gets ready to compete in the Olympics. 

However, on later news, Lindsey Vonn took a fall not even 13 seconds into the race. Her arm caught onto the flag, and she crashed down onto the snow, flipping over twice before crashing into the net. A helicopter had to come and rescue her again, and doctors have confirmed that she broke her left leg, the same one on which she tore her ACL. She is currently rehabilitating at Ca’ Foncello Hospital. Her dad said this injury marks the end of Vonn's professional racing career at age 41. We hope to see her feeling better soon.

In conclusion, the Winter Olympics are a time of thrills, experiences, and heartbreak, but overall, it’s worth watching. It only comes on every 4 years, so cherish it while it lasts. These athletes have worked so hard to get to the point where they are today, and it’s so amazing to experience this pivotal moment in their lives with them. I watched the Olympics myself, and it's something incredibly inspiring. It also showed me the limitless possibilities I have as a skier. All this to say, let yourself be inspired by the dedication, passion, and incredible skill on display, and witness firsthand what it truly means to represent your country on the world’s biggest stage. It is more than just a competition; it is a celebration of human potential that brings the world together.