Saluti agli abbonati del progretto tifosi sportivi.
Translation: Greetings Sports Fan Project subscribers.
As I write this February edition of “Inside Baseball,” my traveling party and I are en route from San Vito, Italy, to Milan.
It’s pretty much a 6-hour travel day from our housing near Cortina to Milan where we’ll continue our Winter Olympics experience over the next week.
As promised a little more than a week ago, here’s the first of two “Inside Baseball” editions this month, focusing – primarily – on our time in Cortina for a pair of events as part of the Around the World in 80 Sporting Events project.
Please enjoy the slide show below that highlights much of what we experienced in the quaint Dolomites’ village of Cortina d’Ampezzo, one of the named host cities for the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.
The Olympic Cauldron by night in Piazza Angelo di Bona. 
The Cauldron by day with Olimpia delle Tofane in the backdrop. 
The Olympic Cauldron with Carol and I in the foreground. 
Corso Italia is decked out with flags and illuminated figures flying overhead. 
The waning sun in downtown Cortina. 
This flags adorn various lamp posts throughout Cortina. 
The remainder of the set. 
You never know who might meet on the streets. Here’s Carol and a member of the Jamaican Bobsleigh Team. 
The Olympic and Paralympic torches were found in a streetside display. 
The Coca-Cola Peak Experience allowed for visitors to hold a torch. 
The Olympic Medals. 
The Paralympic Medals. 
Switzerland’s Hospitality House provided us with a warming spot and lovely meal following our time at the luge event. 
The Argentinian contingent marches in the Cortina Opening Ceremonies Parade of Nations. 
Fans from everywhere crowded around Cortina to see the Opening Ceremonies, including these recognizable names from Canada. 
The Australian athletes’ contingent. 
Various television crews from around the world are frequently doing live reports from streets. 
The view inside the Cortina Sliding Center. 
One of the two mascots, Tina, was at the Men’s Luge Event. 
Looking down the row of flags in the Sliding Center. 
In case I ever forget what it was I was seeing. 
You’ve gotta … 
…. be … 
… quick … 
… on the photo button. 
Here’s a men’s luge participant at the finish. 
We watched the final runs from our home the next night. Here’s Gold Medalist Max Langenhan from Germany celebrating. 
I wonder how the German’s will fare in skeleton? 
The Sliding Center as seen from the Cortina Olympic Curling Stadium. 
The view of Olimpia delle Tofane from across the valley atop Mount Faloria. 
The one constant we experienced in Cortina was lack of organization for boarding the shuttle bus. 
Our seat view during Curling. 
The logo on the curling ice. 
A pair of passionate Italian fans cheer on their team. 
American curlers Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin talk strategy during their semifinal match. 
Italian curlers Stefania Costantini and Amos Monsaner during their semifinal match. 
The Swedish curlers are siblings Rasmus and Isabella Wrana. 
The British curlers are Jennifer Dodds and Bruce Mouat. 
The Brits conceded their match to Sweden with one end remaining. 
The Americans Korey and Cory celebrate their semifinal victory. 
Our group, Tim, Tracey, Carol, and I, following the action. 
A wide view of the Cortina Olympic Curling Stadium. 
We watched the Gold Medal match from our flat. Sweden won. 
It’s hard to see (look for the arrow), but that’s the helicopter airlifting U.S. downhill skier Lindsey Vonn off Tofane following her crash. 
The Lilly photobooth puts you in the action. 
Commemorative laser-engraved can of Coke? Yes, please. 
Having fun at the Swatch Photobooth at Switzerland House. 
The Olympic Rings in Cortina with Olimpia delle Tofane in the backdrop. 
Cortina Village from high above on Mount Faloria
Moonlighting
I volunteered to serve as a Cortina correspondent for former Conversations with Sports Fans guests, Jill Jaracz and Alison Brown (aka Keep the Flame Alive Podcast). Jill had noted on a post shortly after she’d arrived in Milan that travel challenges/time constraints were likely to prevent either of them from experiencing any of the Games in Cortina. I filed a pair of reports that were, in my opinion … OK, following our time at the Men’s Luge Singles Runs 1 and 2 and again following the Mixed Doubles Curling Semi-Finals.
You’re able to listen to Keep the Flame Alive at this link. Jill and Alison do a whale of a job recapping each day’s highlights from a pair of fans’ perspective.
Around the World in 80 Sporting Events in the News
The Detroit News profiled my Around the World in 80 Sporting Events project in it’s February 5th editions. Writer Tony Paul and photo journalist, Daniel Mears, combined to tell the story of my post-retirement endeavors. The editors at The News deemed it front page worthy, which was a bit humbling to say the least. Here’s a link to the story.
Video Virality
Midway through the Mixed Doubles Curling Semifinals, I shared the video below as a Facebook Reel. As I type this, it’s been viewed three-quarters of a million times!
Holy Moly!!!
