The Olympics are starting, but not today.
The curling tournament is one of the longest events on the program of the 2026 Winter Olympics. It is so long that the first matches must be played before the official start of the Games. (curling from February 4, 2026, the official opening is February 6, 2026) Since the Mixed Doubles category has also been added to the program, the match schedule could not be squeezed into less than nineteen days. Ten women's and men's teams will compete in the traditional category in the second half of the Olympics, and we are fortunate to have representatives in the men's competition. This is the first time since curling became a regular medal sport. First, however, pairs will compete, for only the third time in the history of the Games. And the Czech Republic once again, for the second time, has representatives in this young category. Julie Zelingrová and Vít Chabičovský represent Czech curling and will strive to build on the solid result achieved by Zuzana and Tomáš Paulovi at the Beijing Olympics (sixth place). There is enormous interest in their performance under the five rings, and a large number of domestic fans have traveled to Cortina d'Ampezzo to cheer on the Czech representatives. Their debut will not be easy, as they will face the Canadians in their first match, but both sides will be striving to succeed in the opening match, so everything is completely open.
Czech Television will broadcast all "Czech" matches, totaling well over fifty hours. In addition to the broadcasts themselves, viewers of the morning program on ČT1 were introduced to curling in a report from the curling hall in Roztyly, presented with her usual charm by Lada Kolovratová. The Czech curling community, consisting not only of players, their family members and friends, but also "Olympic" fans of ice and winter sports, will certainly experience moments full of tension and excitement over the next two and a half weeks.