Latest news with #MilanoCortina
Scoop
3 days ago
- Sport
- Scoop
NZ Olympic Team Honour Pounamu Journey With Inaugural Winter Wānanga
The New Zealand Team in collaboration with Ngāi Tahu Pounamu, has completed its first-ever Winter Wānanga in Māwhera (Greymouth) to strengthen the connection between New Zealand Team athletes, Paralympic athletes and Poutini Ngāi Tahu, the true kaitiaki (guardians) of pounamu. For the past 20 years, each Olympic and Paralympic team member has been gifted a pounamu pendant carved by Ngāi Tahu Pounamu, to help unite and inspire athletes while competing for their country. Five NZ Team Olympic athletes and one Paralympic athlete to Milano Cortina attended the wānanga alongside Chefs de Mission Marty Toomey and Jane Stevens. The two-day cultural immersion was created to give athletes and staff a deeper cultural understanding and connection to Poutini Ngāi Tahu, pounamu, and te ao Māori, through shared learning, reflection, and whakawhanaungatanga. The Winter Wānanga marked a significant milestone in the New Zealand Team's ongoing commitment to upholding a team culture of manaaki with a programme centred around three themes - People, Place, and Pounamu. Athletes were immersed in the whakapapa of pounamu, including the creation, artistry, sustainability and its significance as a taonga shared across Olympic and Paralympic campaigns. Olympic gold medallist Zoi Sadowski-Synnott said she felt incredibly grateful for the opportunity to learn more about the meaning and history of pounamu. 'The pounamu we receive at the Games is incredibly special, but having this experience gives us a deeper understanding of what it truly represents,' she said. 'This is the first time I've ever been a part of something like this, and it's really special to have been welcomed so warmly, with Poutini Ngāi Tahu sharing their history, culture and family with us.' Ngāi Tahu Operations Manager Chantal Tumahi says it was a full circle moment to host the inaugural wānanga, marking the first time athletes have had input into the design of the pendants that will be made for the Milano Cortina Winter Games. 'Pounamu connects the wearer to whenua (place), whānau (people) and whakapapa (ancestry). When gifted to our Olympic athletes pounamu becomes a powerful symbol of connection - grounding them in Aotearoa, reminding them of where they come from and linking them to one another. 'All pendants gifted to NZ Team and Paralympic athletes are carved from a single piece of Pounamu. This shared origin unites every New Zealand Olympic and Paralympic athlete, binding them through the mauri (life force) of the stone. When one athlete wears their pounamu they carry with them the strength, support, and presence of every other athlete – a permanent bond forged through the enduring nature of pounamu.' Pounamu is a cornerstone of Te Kapa o Aotearoa, the New Zealand Team. It is a prized taonga that has become a symbol of pride, mana, and excellence for all Olympic and Paralympic athletes of Aotearoa New Zealand. Pounamu holds deep spiritual and cultural significance to Ngāi Tahu. The taonga is a powerful representation of identity, ancestry and connection to people and place. As kaitiaki of all pounamu within their takiwā (territory) Poutini Ngāi Tahu have a deep responsibility to protect and preserve the mana of the stone. Pounamu plays a vital role in maintaining traditions, upholding cultural practices and supporting the aspirations of Poutini Ngāi Tahu. For the first time since it was presented to the New Zealand Team by Ngāi Tahu Pounamu in 2004, the mauri stone, a symbol of life force and spiritual connection to Aotearoa, returned home to the Arahura river, carrying with it the collective energy, stories and mana of every athlete who has represented our nation on the world stage. 'It was very humbling to return the New Zealand Team mauri stone to its home in Arahura, to replenish the mauri of the stone and strengthen the relationship of NZOC and Poutini Ngāi Tahu as kaitiaki of the stone,' said Nicki Nicol, CEO of the NZOC. The Winter Wānanga marked a meaningful step in the New Zealand Team's cultural journey, deepening athletes' connection to pounamu and home.
Yahoo
24-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Nashville Predators forward Vladimir Orszagh to coach Slovakia at 2026 Winter Olympics
A familiar face to Nashville Predators fans will be behind the bench for Slovakia's men's ice hockey team at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina.
Canada News.Net
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Canada News.Net
Canada names assistant coaches for 2026 Olympics
(Photo credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images) The Team Canada coaching staff for the 2026 Winter Olympics will have a very familiar appearance. The same NHL head coaches that helped bench boss Jon Cooper guide the Canadians to gold in the 4 Nations Face-Off in February will don jackets and ties for the Milano Cortina competition in Italy. Vegas Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy, former Dallas Stars coach Pete DeBoer and new Philadelphia Flyers coach Rick Tocchet will work with NHL players in the Olympics for the first time in a dozen years. The NHL has not allowed players to participate since the 2014 Sochi Olympics. 'This group of coaches will provide consistency and a winning pedigree to our team, and I know our players will greatly benefit from this world-class coaching staff,' Cooper, head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning, said in a statement. 'I look forward to working alongside all seven as we look to replicate our 4 Nations success on the Olympic stage in February.' Cassidy, 60, guided Vegas to a Stanley Cup title in his first season at the helm in 2023. He previously served as bench boss in Washington (2002-04) and Boston (2016-22), leading the Bruins to a berth in the finals in the 2018-19 season. DeBoer, 57, has served as a head coach for 17 NHL seasons, leading Florida (2008-11), New Jersey (2011-15), San Jose (2015-19), Vegas (2019-22) and Dallas (2022-25). He piloted the Stars to three consecutive Western Conference finals, but could not get to the Stanley Cup Finals, as he did with the Devils (2012) and Sharks (2016). Tocchet, 61, was hired to lead the Flyers in May after three campaigns with the Vancouver Canucks. He won the Jack Adams Award, given to the league's top head coach, in 2024. Tocchet, who enjoyed 18 seasons a rugged forward in the NHL (1984-2002), also had coaching stints in Tampa Bay (2008-10) and Arizona (2017-21). Team Canada general manager Doug Armstrong (St. Louis Blues GM) headed up the group that made the selections, along with assistant GMs Julien BriseBois (Tampa Bay), Jim Nill (Dallas) and Don Sweeney (Boston), director of player personnel Kyle Dubas (Pittsburgh) and Cooper. 'It was important to bring back our elite coaches and support staff from the 4 Nations Face-Off, as this is a group that provides familiarity to our team and brings a desire to help our athletes perform at their best,' Armstrong said. 'Each individual brings unique NHL and international experience to our team, and all staff members will play a key role in Team Canada's preparation and performance. We know everyone is excited for the opportunity to represent Canada at the Olympic Winter Games and wear the Maple Leaf with pride in Italy.' The men's hockey competition in Milan will take place Feb. 11-22, 2026.
Time of India
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Ducks goaltender Damian Clara to represent his home country–Italy at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026
The 20-year-old goaltender for the Anaheim Ducks could not believe his ears when he heard–'Hey, we've got our top six guys and you're one of them.' Damian Clara received this beyond-belief news on June 16. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The netminder only talked about it with Dan Arritt of NHL Network on July 18. He innocently told Arritt, 'I didn't even know there was a thing. I just got a call, and I was like–Okay, wow. What's that?' Clara hails from Brunico, Italy, and he's going to represent his home country at the 2026 Olympics! How does Damian Clara feel about representing Italy in the 2026 Winter Olympics ? 'It's a big honor. Really happy to get the trust. I will do my best to go there and hopefully help the team. It's our goal, and we'll see what happens,' Clara told Arritt. When Arritt asked him how he viewed competing in the Olympics? The netminder said, 'Just see it as a challenge. There's nothing to lose. Exciting opportunity–as I'm still in the development. And it's a great thing for Italian hockey to invite some of the best players in the world into our rink and obviously match up with our team. ' Arritt asked him if he used his stature to intimidate the players on the rink. The 6-foot-6, 214-pounder goalie said, 'Sometimes, I open up and I play too aggressive and make life hard for myself. That's something else I've learned–just use what's there the best way possible, and I think there's still some steps I can take to accomplish that and get more out of it.' Six players from the NHL will compete in the 2026 Olympic Winter Games Apart from the goggle-eyed goalie, six others will play in the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026–Rasmus Dahlin(defenseman and captain for the Buffalo Sabres), Gabriel Landeskog(left winger and captain for the Colorado Avalanche), Lucas Raymond(ice hockey winger for Detroit Red Wings), Adrian Kempe(ice hockey player for the Los Angeles Kings), Victor Hedman(defenseman and captain for Tampa Bay Lightning), and William Nylander(ice hockey forward for Toronto Maple Leafs)–but they would all be representing Sweden. Also Read:
The Standard
15-07-2025
- Sport
- The Standard
Olympics-Russia's luge federation to appeal 2026 Games ban
2022 Beijing Olympics - Closing Ceremony - National Stadium, Beijing, China - February 20, 2022. The 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics logo is displayed during the closing ceremony. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch/File Photo
