Curling is set to run daily at Milan–Cortina 2026 with top teams (Italy, Great Britain, Canada, Sweden) among the favourites. For bettors: prioritise sides with proven consistency and sweeping power — back Italy’s Constantini/Mosaner and Great Britain/Scotland in match markets, consider tight-score handicaps and low-total lines when ice is heavy, and hunt live-value as ice conditions and sweeping alter outcomes.
Curling at Milan–Cortina 2026: what punters and fans should expect
Curling will be one of the most prominent attractions of Milan–Cortina 2026, played every day of the Olympics Games and offering nine medals across men’s, women’s and mixed events. Expect 147 matches over 19 days, with tactical battles decided by millimetres, sweeping and last-stone advantage.
Curling basics: objective, team roles and scoring
Two teams of four (or mixed doubles teams of two) alternate delivering polished granite stones toward the “house,” a set of three concentric rings.
Each player delivers two stones per end, with the skip throwing the final pair. Points are awarded for stones closer to the button than any opponent stone after each end.
Olympic men’s and women’s matches are typically 10 ends; mixed doubles usually span eight ends.
Key terms every viewer should know
Draw — a shot aimed to stop near the button.
Guard — a stone placed short of the rings to protect other stones.
Takeout — a throw designed to remove opponent stones.
Hammer — last-stone advantage for an end; a crucial strategic edge.
Free guard zone (five-rock rule) — prevents opponents from removing early guards, encouraging offence and tactical play.
Field of play and ice: dimensions, pebble and delivery rules
A curling sheet measures roughly 45 metres by 5 metres (about 150ft × 15ft). The house is set at each end, centred on the tee and centre line.
Players push off from fixed rubber “hacks” and must release stones before the hog line, 11 metres from the backboard.
Olympic ice is deliberately textured with millions of tiny frozen droplets called “pebble,” which reduces friction and lets stones curl; that pebble also makes falls and heavy lifts dangerous — and explains why stones weigh about 20 kilos (44lbs).
Tools of the trade: stones, brooms and shoes
Olympic curling stones are crafted from rare micro-granite from only two quarries in the UK. Stones are approximately 114mm high with a narrow running surface on the bottom that contacts the ice. Handles are colour-coded to identify teams and rotated to control the direction of curl (in-turn vs out-turn). Modern brooms are carbon-fibre with standardised brush heads; sweeping warms the ice pebble to allow stones to travel further and straighter. One shoe has a Teflon slider; the other provides grip for delivery.
Strategy: how draws, guards and the hammer shape matches
Tactics depend heavily on who has the hammer. Teams without the hammer typically place guards and force opponents to play around them. The five-rock free guard zone encourages multiple guards and patient strategy rather than repeated early takeouts. Ice behaviour — whether “swingy” (lots of curl) or “heavy/straight” — determines guard placement and sweeping emphasis. Skilled sweeping can alter a stone’s path by several feet over a shot.
Rules and penalties: burning stones and sportsmanship
Touching a moving stone (“burning” it) is a recognised penalty; the non-offending skip usually decides whether the stone is removed or left where it stopped. Accidental contact with stationary stones is also resolved by skip agreement on replacement or removal. Curling relies heavily on player honesty for these calls.
What makes a champion curler: physical and mental demands
Top curlers combine explosive leg drive, core stability and precision — training includes single-leg drives, squats and deadlifts to deliver consistent shots. Technical consistency down to millimetres, split-second tactical decisions, and flawless teamwork are essential. Leadership under pressure (as a skip) is often the difference in medal-deciding ends.
Teams and players to watch
Italy — Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner enter with a strong unbeaten run and major titles.
Great Britain/Scotland — Bruce Mouat and teammates are current world champions and will be among the favourites.
Canada — perennial medal contenders on both men’s and women’s sides, with veteran Olympic pedigree.
Sweden — Niklas Edin’s squad returns as experienced gold-medal contenders. USA, Switzerland, Norway, China and South Korea — all possess medal-calibre lineups and can upset favourites depending on ice and form.
Olympic medal schedule (local Italy times and ET equivalents)
Bronze: Feb. 10, 14:05 Italy / 08:05 ET
Gold: Feb. 10, 18:05 Italy / 12:05 ET
Bronze: Feb. 20, 19:05 Italy / 13:05 ET
Gold: Feb. 21, 19:05 Italy / 13:05 ET
Bronze: Feb. 21, 14:05 Italy / 08:05 ET
Gold: Feb. 22, 11:05 Italy / 05:05 ET
How to watch
In the United States, coverage is expected on NBC networks and streaming via Peacock. In the UK, live broadcasts will be available via TNT Sport and the BBC with streams on relevant services. CBC will provide coverage in Canada.
Betting considerations
Ice conditions and sweeping capability are critical variables that can shift value in pre-match and in-play markets.
Favourites with proven consistency and strong sweeping units are logical pre-match bets in head-to-head markets.
For greater value, look at handicaps and total-score markets: heavy or straight ice often suppresses scoring, so under totals and low-margin handicaps can pay off.
Live betting offers opportunities once early ends reveal ice behaviour and team sweeping effectiveness.
Final note
Curling’s mix of technique, strategy and tiny margins makes it one of the most compelling Olympic sports to follow and to wager on — especially when bettors factor ice conditions, sweeping strength and last-stone advantage into their markets.
Winter Olympics stars taking strict precautions to protect against Covid-19
Everything you need to know about curling as the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Games get underway.
Theathleticuk
