Column: Winter Olympics in Italy? Yeah, I've Done That!

By Larry Smith - IlliniGuys Co-Founder

February 6, 2026

With the countdown to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina now down to being hours away, I can’t help thinking about my unforgettable experience 20 years ago. Of the four Olympics that I covered as a CNN Sports correspondent, the 2006 Games in Torino was my only taste of the winter-version of the iconic global competition.

First things first, let me clear up one of the biggest misconceptions: covering an Olympics is NOT a glamour assignment. The days are long and the work is immense, but it was . . .

 

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