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The logo of the Milan Cortina Winter Games in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, in December, 2025.STEFANO RELLANDINI/AFP/Getty Images


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The 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Games begin on Friday. The Olympics are always a time to rally behind your country, but this year cheering on Team Canada takes on a different meaning. At a time when Canada is asserting itself as a “middle power,” how will that translate on the podium?

Cathal Kelly is a Globe and Mail columnist who writes about sports. Today, he joins the show to prime Olympics superfans and casual watchers alike for what you need to know about the Milan Cortina Winter Games, where Canada is likely to excel, and how politics could shape the narrative of these Winter Olympics.

Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com

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