During a tense, medal-deciding curling match, the stadium announcer, an Italian film actor, grabbed the microphone to energize the crowd.
“Fans, are you enjoying this match, yes or no?” the announcer, Daniele Coscarella, boomed, his voice echoing through the stadium. “Are you ready to sing together?”
Then, the classic anthem ‘Eye of the Tiger’ by Survivor blasted through the speakers. The crowd, caught up in the drama of the mixed doubles final, enthusiastically sang along and danced.
It was yet another unforgettable evening in the 70-year history of the Olympic Stadium in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, a venue proudly co-hosting the Winter Games with Milan.
It’s common for Olympic host cities to face infrastructure challenges. The new hockey rink in Milan, for instance, was still under construction just weeks before the Games. In Cortina, residents have voiced complaints about various projects, including the new bobsled track, a new cable car for skiing, and numerous roadblocks and safety nettings across town.
Image: People walking outside the Olympic Stadium. They are wearing red coats and blurred.
The Olympic Stadium has a storied past, having held events during the 1956 Winter Olympics.
Image: A woman sliding and pushing a curling stone while a man stands next to her preparing to sweep.
During the mixed doubles curling gold medal match at the Olympic Stadium, with its 3,500 capacity, U.S. curlers Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin were in action.
Image: The second tier of the stadium, showing fans leaning over the front row and draping flags of Sweden and Italy.
The enthusiastic crowd often stomps on the metal grates of the stands, generating a deafening roar typical of many traditional sports.
Yet, despite the widespread complaints about other Olympic constructions, the curling stadium has largely avoided criticism. Much like the sport itself, it possesses a unique charm that makes it quirky, a bit odd, and undeniably beloved.
“If you ask me, it has a soul,” Coscarella remarked after the intense match. “When curling draws such a full house, it signifies a true accomplishment for Cortina.”
Although technically an arena, an enclosed facility designed for multiple uses, everyone in town affectionately refers to it as the “stadio” — or stadium — a nod to its original design and purpose.
In 1956, it debuted as a U-shaped, open-air ice rink, beautifully constructed with wood, perfectly complementing Cortina’s scenic mountain backdrop. During the Winter Olympics that year, it served as the proud host of hockey matches.
John Mayasich, now 92, a veteran of the U.S. men’s hockey team that secured silver in those Games and later gold in Squaw Valley, California, fondly remembered playing under the night-time floodlights during a phone interview from his Minnesota home.
“Playing outdoors was fantastic. I grew up playing outside,” he shared. “Beating Canada back then was a monumental achievement.”
Image: A black-and-white image of a men’s hockey game with spectators watching in three tiers of stands.
Image: A black-and-white image of a U-shaped sports venue in a mountainous setting in the background, with cars parked in the foreground.
The arena, built in 1956, was originally a U-shaped, open-air ice rink, its wooden structure blending perfectly with Cortina’s picturesque mountain environment.
Image: A black-and-white image of a man and woman performing in a figure skating competition at the Cortina Olympic Stadium.
The stadium also hosted elegant pairs figure skating events in 1956.
Mayasich vividly recalled that particular game, proudly highlighting his three goals.
Fast forward twenty-five years, and the stadium welcomed none other than James Bond himself – or rather, Roger Moore portraying the iconic British spy in ‘For Your Eyes Only.’ The 1981 film features 007 being flirted with by a young American figure skater at the rink, only to then face assassins on a nearby biathlon course.
A decade later, a different kind of drama unfolded when proposals surfaced to add a roof to the stadium, aiming to make it a year-round facility. Many locals deemed this sacrilegious, but architects found a compromise: they preserved the original wooden elements and sense of openness by encasing the U-shaped structure with a glass wall.
Ahead of the 2026 Olympics, Simico, the Italian state-owned infrastructure company, undertook significant upgrades. These included expanding locker rooms, adding ramps and an elevator, improving lighting and video screens, and implementing a sophisticated heating and cooling system to maintain ideal curling ice conditions. Gianluca Lorenzi, Cortina’s mayor and a former curling coach, noted that the body heat from a capacity crowd of 3,500 fans naturally influences the ice.
From his wood-paneled office, a short walk from the stadium, Mayor Lorenzi emphasized the venue’s importance to the town. Its daily use for curling, hockey, and ice skating draws people of all ages, making it a vital community hub.
Image: A man and a woman, shown from behind, look out at the curling ice lane.
In the mixed doubles competition, Sweden triumphed over the United States to claim the gold medal.
Image: Curling stones in the target circle in three separate lanes.
Image: Fans, shown from behind, sitting in blue seats atop wooden stands.
Some fans have noted that the sightlines from certain seats aren’t ideal, and the perimeter security barriers for the Olympics somewhat obstruct the stadium’s views.
“The technology inside is modern, but the structure itself is historic,” he explained. “We’ve truly given it a new lease on life.”
Of course, it’s not without its flaws. Some spectators report less-than-perfect sightlines from certain seats, and the ring of security barriers for the Olympics regrettably obscures some of the stadium’s grandeur upon arrival.
Yet, despite these minor drawbacks, the stadium possesses an undeniable charm that resonates with visitors.
Linda Christensen, a championship curler on the senior U.S. circuit, who has visited at least 150 curling venues globally, declared this one “gorgeous.” She traveled to Cortina specifically to support her daughter, Cory Thiesse, in the mixed doubles event.
“The natural wood,” she admired. “I simply think old things are cool.”
While some might playfully dismiss curling as ‘shuffleboard on ice,’ the atmosphere within the stadium is anything but subdued. Fans enthusiastically stomp on the metal grates of the stands, generating a deafening din that rivals more conventional sports arenas.
“Finish it!” one passionate fan roared at the American team during last week’s mixed doubles final.
(Ultimately, they were unsuccessful, falling to Sweden.)
The stands were a vibrant display of national pride, with fans sporting flags painted on their cheeks and draped over their shoulders like capes. A DJ kept the energy high with classics like ‘Y.M.C.A.’ and ‘I Will Survive,’ while a section of Estonian supporters, creatively costumed as Super Mario characters, added to the festive scene.
Image: A man on the right of the frame plays the bagpipes as he leads a line of other players.
Bagpipers added a unique flair to the opening of the mixed doubles semifinals.
Image: A wall with a framed photo of the 1956 Olympics on it.
Historically, previous plans to modernize the stadium sparked considerable debate and controversy.
Image: American fans cheering during the competition and waving U.S. flags.
Despite any doubts about curling, the stadium consistently erupts into a lively, boisterous atmosphere during matches.
Among the cheering spectators was 13-year-old Marco Gregori, a local who, like most kids in Cortina, has frequented the stadium countless times. He shared that he curls with his school, has attended a World Cup curling match, and even snapped a photo with Stefania Constantini, Cortina’s celebrated curling star who earned a bronze in mixed doubles this year.
That evening, Marco had a particular mission: to catch a glimpse of Snoop Dogg, the famous rapper and NBC commentator known for attending previous curling events. Unfortunately, Snoop was not present.
“I do like curling,” Marco admitted, “but hockey is definitely better.”
Coscarella, the actor and announcer, is a dedicated curling enthusiast who travels from Rome at least once a year to visit the ice palace. He expressed satisfaction that people globally are now experiencing its unique appeal.
“This stadium,” he confidently stated, “is truly the heart of these Olympics.”
Jason Horowitz provided additional reporting from Cortina, and Josephine de La Bruyère contributed to the research.