Men’s Ice Hockey: Slovakia and Finland are about to puck off in the Bronze medal match. I’ll stay locked in on the curling but will bring you the big updates from that match.
Former GB Olympic Curling Gold medallist Vicky Wright is in the studio and sees that last stone as a big error from Canada:
I think GB have come out and continued their play from the semi-final. They have definitely got another gear they can go, but the boys are playing well. They are sitting at 88% so far, they are on it.
That was a massive miss from Brad Jacobs (in the fifth end). He wanted to make the double and blank this end out, but unfortunately he made the nose hit and took one point. That’s big.”
I know you were humming it:
Men’s Curling Final: Canada 4–3 Great Britain (5th End) A mistake from Canada and how costly that might be?
Bruce Mouat removes the Canadian yellow and leaves two reds resting together in the house…
Canada’s Brad Jacobs shapes to blank the end and keep the hammer but his final yellow stone doesn’t have enough gas on it! It stays in the house for one point. Canada lead at the halfway mark but they only got one for that end with the hammer and they’ve handed it to Great Britain for the start of the back five.
As we’ve seen already this week, the Canadian team aren’t shy of a word or two…
Well they’ve also been very chatty between themselves in the match so far, every decision pored over and discussed. In Curling, each team is allocated 38 minutes of thinking time in the match. The clock stops when they start the delivery of their stone. Canada have burned through three more minutes of chat then Great Britain so far.
Men’s Curling Final: Canada 3–3 Great Britain (4th End) After a scrappy end with a few mistakes from Great Britain they “take their medicine” in the words of Steve Cram on the BBC commentary and settle for just the one point. All square after four, Canada have the hammer in the next.
Marijke emails with the gossip on another Marijke…
“For Marijke Groenewoud it’s not only the gold medal today. Her boyfriend asked her to marry him in the area where family was waiting. Of course she said yes!”
Meanwhile, the host broadcaster has not had the best Games:
Italy’s state broadcaster, Rai, was forced to apologise to the Jewish community on Saturday after an off-air remark advising its producers to “avoid” the Israeli crew was broadcast before coverage of the four-man bobsleigh event. The head of Rai’s sports division resigned this week after his error-ridden commentary at the opening ceremony two weeks ago triggered a revolt among its journalists.
On Saturday, viewers heard: “Let’s avoid crew number 21, which is the Israeli one,” and then: “No, because …” before the sound was cut off.
“I firmly condemn the statements made today by a Rai journalist regarding the Israeli bobsleigh delegation at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics,” said Jonathan Peled, Israel’s ambassador, on social media. “There should be no room in sport for incitement to hatred, discrimination based on national, cultural, or religious beliefs, and any offensive rhetoric. We are confident that the RAI management will take all necessary measures to ensure that similar incidents are not repeated.”
Rai’s CEO, Giampaolo Rossi, said the incident represented a serious breach of the principles of impartiality, respect and inclusion that should guide the public broadcaster. He added that Rai had opened an internal inquiry to swiftly determine any responsibility and any potential disciplinary procedures.
In a separate statement Rai’s board of directors condemned the remark as “unacceptable“. The board apologised to the Jewish community, the athletes involved and all viewers who felt offended.
Rai is the country’s largest media organisation and operates national television, radio and digital news services.
The union representing Rai journalists, Usigrai, had said Paolo Petrecca’s opening ceremony commentary had dealt “a serious blow” to the company’s credibility. His missteps included misidentifying venues and public figures, and making comments about national teams that were widely criticised.
Reuters
Men’s Curling Final: Canada 3–2 Great Britain (3rd End) Great Britain have a chance to limit Canada to one but one of their final stones just bounces off leaving Canada with an easy draw for two with the final stone. Canada don’t fluff their lines and make the two to go into the lead. A long way to go of course, we’re going to be in for a tight match.
Day 15’s pictures have landed and, as always, they are beautiful:
Men’s Curling Final: Canada 1–2 Great Britain (2nd End) Great Britain have started confidently, they set up the end and Bruce Mouat has an easy finish to secure two points with the final stone. No sign of nerves, Mouat is a picture of calm. A lone piper has snuck his wares into the arena and lets out a triumphant parp.
Men’s Curling Final: Canada 1–0 Great Britain (1st End) A nervous bladder for Bruce Mouat? Great Britain’s skipper nips off to use the facilities at the end of the end and thus misses Canada only scoring one with the hammer in the first end.
Canada’s Brad Jacobs draws in for one. Great Britain will be pleased with that (you should really be looking to score two with the hammer in your possession). Over to Bruce and the boys, after you’ve washed your hands big man!
The BBC have done a nice little profile of each of the men who make up The Great Britain team. Hammy McMillan is described as “the lively one” though it was Grant Hardie who apparently necked champagne for the entirety of the 13-hour flight home to Scotland from Beijing after winning the silver medal in 2022. Hic!
Bruce Mouat: The skip or captain, he throws last and dictates the tactics. Calm, thoughtful, but fiercely competitive. Considered by many to be the best player in the world.
Grant Hardie: Mouat’s deputy, he will throw third. He’s the analytical one in the team and not afraid to speak his mind. Also drank champagne for the entirety of the 13-hour flight home from Beijing after winning silver.
Hammy McMillan: As the lead, he throws first. He’s the lively one of the team and one of the best sweepers in the world. Loves a carry on. He and Hardie are cousins.
Bobby Lammie: The quiet one but an “absolute freak of nature physically” according to those who train alongside him. Along with McMillan, he has reinvented the role of the sweeper.”
Canada have the hammer in the first end, the crowd are already very vocal as Great Britain’s Hammy McMillan sends the first stone down. Team GB are using the red stones, Canada the yellow.
I don’t know the collective noun but a gaggle of Bagpipers have just marched through the Curling arena and the teams are lined up and being introduced.
Scott is tuned in and cheering for Great Britain’s opponents – Canada.
“I have enjoyed your Olympic coverage but can’t say I’ll be cheering for your lads this match. Hey, not that you don’t have enough on your plate, but do you mind tracking any “Hurry Hard!” entreaties you hear from the skips during the contest? It’s the most compelling plea in the sport. Thanks in advance.”
Consider it done. The players are ready to go, let’s curl!
An email from Julia in Amsterdam:
“Hi James, It is worth noting that the Dutch speed skaters nearly all hail from one tiny province in the North of the country… Friesland. A proud but down to earth people, with their own flag and language – and a generations-deep relationship to skating on the ice. What Kenya and Ethiopia are to long distance running, Friesland is to speed skating. Glory to the Frisians!”
Julia goes on to note that she is a ¼ Frisian. Go figure, or rather, Speed.
Can Bruce and the boys follow in the brush strokes of Eve Muirhead’s team at Beijing in 2022 and Rhona Martin’s at Salt Lake City in 2002?
No men’s curling team has won an Olympic Gold since 1924 in Chamonix. Over a hundred years of history to defy then, no pressure lads.
Thanks Tanya and hello everyone. A shame we won’t see Zoe Atkin go for a medal in the postponed women’s halfpipe but from the coverage I’ve seen today it has been shedding snow down in Cortina today.
No snow falling inside the curling arena though as Bruce Moat, Grant Hardie, Bobby Lammie and Hammy McMillan go for Gold for Great Britain in the men’s curling. Their final match against Canada gets underway in about 30 minutes. Let’s push some granite!
Time for me to shut up shop. Thanks for your company over the Games, it’s been so fun. Over to James for the curling, ice hockey and more. Bye!
Going into the final medal straight, Norway have an unassailable lead with 18 golds, the USA are second with 11, and Netherlands just ahead of Italy, both with ten golds, in third and fourth.
Hello Kurt Perleberg!
“The Netherlands’ dominance in Speed Skating can also be compared to America’s dominance in Athletics and in Swimming.”
Wow, I’ve just checked out the medals table – the USA have 608 swimming Olympic medals, 265 of them gold. Next best is Australia with 232, 76 of them gold. Fun fact: East Germany is still third, despite having only existed for 40 years. That was one evil doping programme.
I wonder if these sporting chiefs who align themselves with unsavoury powerful men will ever feel the ‘guilt and complicity’ talked about in this fantastic read on power dripping away.
The International Olympic Committee will take no action against its member Gianni Infantino for a possible breach of political neutrality rules over aligning Fifa with the US president Donald Trump’s Board of Peace.
The IOC says the matter is closed and Fifa’s development work in Gaza is “entirely in keeping with the role of an international sport federation”. Trump hosted the peace board event on Thursday in Washington, D.C. which Infantino, the Fifa president, attended. When asked Friday about Infantino’s conduct, the IOC president Kirsty Coventry said it would look into a possible breach of neutrality.
AP
Groenewoud and Bergsma’s golds have ensured that Milan-Cortina will be the Netherland’s most prolific Games. The Dutch now have 10 golds, beating the eight they collected in 2014, 2018 and 2022.
Their crushing domination of one sport is on a par with Kenya’s long-distance runners, Jamaica’s sprinters and Australia’s female cricketers.
Our man on the ground Sean Ingle has news – persistent snow has knocked the women’s halfpipe into tomorrow due to “the inability to prepare the pipe in a safe and fair condition.” Expected to be tomorrow morning but tbc.
Speed skating: that was one nervous race, but Groenewoud had the sprint speed for one last lap. Silver medallist Blondin has a rueful smile and a shrug for her coach. Manganello looks thrilled with bronze.
Speed skating: at the bell Groenewoud puts her foot down, drills down the back straight, the pack try – and fail – to stick with her boots. She wins, Blondin, arms swinging, takes silver, and Manganello the bronze.
Speed skating: with two laps to go, it’s still too close to call.
Speed skating: the lead keeps swapping but Tas takes the front and gets a couple of metres ahead.
Speed skating: there are seven laps to go, everyone is bunched again, the coaches lean over the side panels and roar instructions.
Speed skating: Maltais rejoins the back of the train after everyone else dawdles along for a while.
Speed skating: Maltais falls, and is half a lap behind the pack by the time she’s got back on her skates.
Speed skating: they’re away first time (I’ve always wanted to write that) and process around the first lap, hands clasped behind backs like Merchant Ivory characters.
Speed skating: Ayano Sato, who must have survived a judges inquiry into her semi-final push, will be in pole position for this last skating race of the Games.
Speed skating: after the drama of the men’s race, the women line up for the mass start final. A third gold for Francesca Lollobrigida? Your guess is a good as mine. They mull about at the start.
Curling: Canada do it, with a stone to spare! Canada 10-USA 7.
Will USA make it honours even when the two do battle again in the big ice-hockey finale tomorrow.
Speed skating: Viktor Hald Thorup has a good old cry of joy, he absolutely wasn’t expected to get a medal but stuck with wily old pro Bergsma and gets his reward. Bergsma grins and waves the Dutch flag. Giovannini half-heartedly celebrates bronze.
Everyone else looks thoroughly pissed off. Outwitted.
Speed skating: Age over young legs! 40 year old Bergsma conducts the crowd as he eases over the line, Denmark’s Viktor Hald Thorup holds on for second and Giovannini wins the scramble for bronze.
Speed skating: with two laps to go Bergsma breaks away and goes alone, faster and faster!
Speed skating: six laps to go and Bergsma and Hald Thorup are still ahead, way ahead, bent over, rhythmic and gaining.
Speed skating: back to the speed skating arena, where the men’s final is galloping into speed. There has been a breakaway, with Jorrit Bergsma and Viktor Hald Thorup half a lap ahead.
Curling: USA are still in it! They take two from the ninth end and go into the tenth just one point down, Canada 8, USA 7.
But Can-a-da fans are out shouting those from U-S-A, and Canada have the hammer.
Love this summary of the Games by Emma, including a very funny joke about Surrey:
Snowy deluges in Livigno have delayed the start of the women’s half pipe. Those in charge are due to update in about an hour on whether it can happen today or will have to run into Sunday.
Women’s curling: Canada have a healthy lead, 8-5, coming into the ninth end. The USA have the hammer and need a little miracle.
Germany will remain in the running for the 2036 Summer Olympics despite its president expressing concern about the 100th anniversary of the Nazi-era Berlin Games, the nation’s Olympic sports head said on Saturday.
The German Olympic Sports Federation (DOSB) is due to decide later this year on putting forward a candidate from Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, and the Rhine-Ruhr region for the 2036, 2040 or 2044 Games.
The first of the three dates could be contentious, however. “The president views the year 2036 as historically problematic for a German bid,” a spokesperson for Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Thursday. But the DOSB president, Thomas Weikert, told reporters at the German House at the Winter Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo that all dates remained open.
“The IOC [International Olympic Committee] decides when the Games will come to Europe. It could be that they say that 2036 is for Asia or Africa,” he said. “Therefore, my answer is that we have to be ready to organise the Games [whenever they decide]. This concerns all three editions. We want to show a positive Germany. This would also apply to 2036.”
Reuters
Speed skating: ignore me, Myers has been eaten up by the pack, with Lollobrigida in the lead, but they’re still bunched up like rush hour at Oxford Circus.
At last they go, just before the bell, stringing out in a line with Groenewoud first, and home favourite Lollobrigida second.
Speed skating: Myers looks behind her but she’s still got a lead and the main pack are all over the place in a block, looks like an accident waiting to happen.
Speed skating: Greta Myers of the USA accelerates off a sprint lap and soon has a lead of the back straight.
Speed skating: time for semi-final two: skin suits ready, helmets on.Sixteen laps of the track – the first is a procession behind Marijke Groenewoud, who gets that honour by being seeded No. 1.
Speed skating: replays show Ayano Sato gave Valérie Maltais a little shove on her way through – one for the judges.
The Guardian
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