Google has launched a new animated Doodle to celebrate the start of the Winter Olympic Games 2026. The special artwork highlights the sport of curling and marks the opening of the global sporting event in Italy.
The Winter Olympics 2026, also known as Milano Cortina 2026, officially begin on Friday, February 6. The games will continue until February 22. Italy is hosting the event across several cities, with major ceremonies planned in Milan and Verona.
The Google Doodle features an animated curling player sliding a stone across the ice. The design creatively blends with the Google logo. The letter “G” stands still, while the two “O” letters show the animated motion. The remaining letters complete the logo in a simple and colorful style.
Google said the Doodle aims to promote awareness of lesser-known Olympic sports. Curling is one of the key events of the Winter Games and attracts global attention every four years.
Curling is a team sport played on ice. Two teams, each with four players, take turns sliding heavy stones toward a target area called the house. Each stone weighs around 44 pounds. The goal is to place the stone closest to the center of the house.
Players use brooms to sweep the ice in front of the stone. This action changes its speed and direction. The team captain, known as the skip, gives instructions and decides each move.
Each team throws eight stones per round. After all stones are played, points are awarded based on how close the stones are to the center. The team with the highest total score wins.
Google often uses Doodles to celebrate cultural and global events. In recent years, Google has highlighted festivals, national holidays, and major sports tournaments. This new Doodle reflects Google’s ongoing effort to connect users with world events.
The Winter Olympics 2026 will feature several sports. These include curling, ice hockey, skiing, and skating. Some events will begin before the official opening ceremony.
The closing ceremony will take place on February 23 in Verona. Ice hockey will be the final event of the Games, with the men’s gold medal match ending the competition.
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With this animated design, Google brings attention to curling and encourages users to explore the sport during the Olympics.
