The Winter Games return to the Beehive State for the first time since 2002, and it remains one of three cities in the United States to have been awarded hosting duties, after Lake Placid, New York, which last hosted in 1980 and Squaw Valley, California in 1960.

Part of the world's largest athletic stage returns to St. Louis after more than 100 years. St. Louis, New York City, Columbus, Nashville, San Jose and San Diego will be the sites of group and knockout contests before the final stage matches are held at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.

Every two years, the world comes together in celebration of the Olympic Games. Established in Greece, the Olympics have been around for thousands of years. While they've evolved over time, one thing has remained the same: The spirit of competition.

Olympic fans in the United States have a lot to look forward to over the next few years. Los Angeles will host the Summer Olympics in 2028, and on Wednesday, Salt Lake City was awarded the 2034 Winter Olympics.

"Amid pressing international conflicts, the Olympics is one of the most significant geopolitical events of the year."

The 2026 Winter Olympics are set to officially begin with Friday's opening ceremony. While the world will be captivated by the two-plus weeks of action in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, it's never too early to look ahead at what comes next.

From the 1964 Tokyo Olympics to the 2026 Milano Cortina Games, NBC is there for the action.

MILAN (AP) — Olympic officials from Africa took their concerns about a visa program for entering the United States to leaders of the 2028 Los Angeles Games on Tuesday. International Olympic Committee members from Ethiopia and Djibouti quizzed the LA organizing team about how fans and visitors would get “equal access” to the U.