CORTINA D'AMPEZZO (AP) — There are four matches happening at once in Cortina's curling stadium, yet you’d hardly know it. All attention in the venue seems trained on young, high-ponytailed Stefania Constantini,

Why does curling become so popular at the Olympics? And how does it even work? Time to actually learn about this popular Winter Olympics sport.

Although the first-ever Olympic mixed doubles curling competition technically started on Feb. 8, the time difference for North America meant a 7:05 p.m. start on Feb. 7.

No matter where you come from, the Broadmoor Curling Club wants you to throw that stone down the ice, and we want you to have fun.

Curling is a labor of love for the members, who volunteer for a sport that grows in popularity during the Winter Games.

What is a curling power play? What is the hammer? How many ends? Who's on the U.S. team, and will their stone-cold strategy end the medal drought?

Creating an ice surface for curling isn't as simple as flooding an area with water and allowing it to freeze. The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina features some of the best ice technicians in the sport, and there is a certain way they go about making the four sheets inside Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium.