Catch the Action: Skiing, Figure Skating, and Hockey Headline Saturday’s Olympic Slate
The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo kick into high gear this Saturday, February 7, offering viewers their first full day of medal events and high-stakes preliminary rounds. Following Friday’s Opening Ceremony, the schedule is packed with marquee events including the men’s downhill in alpine skiing, the continuation of the figure skating team event, and a key matchup for the U.S. women’s hockey team.
Saturday’s Viewing Highlights (All Times Eastern):
Alpine Skiing: The blue-ribbon event of the Winter Games, the Men’s Downhill, starts early at 5:30 a.m. on USA Network and Peacock. American Ryan Cochran-Siegle is among the contenders looking to challenge European dominance on the slopes.
Figure Skating: The Team Event resumes with the Men’s Short Program at 1:45 p.m. on NBC and Peacock. All eyes will be on “Quad God” Ilia Malinin, making his highly anticipated Olympic debut as he looks to secure crucial points for Team USA.
Ice Hockey: The U.S. Women’s team faces a tough test in the preliminary round against Finland at 10:40 a.m. on USA Network. Canada also takes the ice against Switzerland later in the day (3:10 p.m.).
Snowboarding: The Men’s Big Air final airs at 1:30 p.m., offering spectacular aerials and an early chance for medals.
Speed Skating: The first gold on the oval will be decided in the Women’s 3000m at 10:00 a.m.
Objections and Viewer Challenges
While the slate is exciting, American viewers may find the schedule frustrating due to the six-hour time difference between Italy and the U.S. East Coast. Key medal events like the Men’s Downhill occur before dawn for many, forcing fans to choose between waking up at 5:30 a.m. or dodging social media spoilers until NBC’s primetime broadcast at 8:00 p.m. Additionally, cord-cutters should note that while NBC and USA Network carry select events, comprehensive “watch everything” access is locked behind a Peacock premium subscription, a point of contention for those already paying for cable packages.
Context: The Milan Cortina Games
These games mark the return of the Winter Olympics to Europe for the first time since 2014, utilizing a decentralized venue plan across Northern Italy. Milan hosts the ice sports (figure skating, hockey), while the distinct mountain town of Cortina d’Ampezzo hosts the alpine skiing events. This Saturday is critical for establishing momentum in the medal count, particularly for Team USA, which is looking to improve upon its performance from the 2022 Beijing Games.
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