Milan Athletes Welcome Return of Winter Olympics Spectators

New York Times - WorldCenter-LeftEN 4 min read 100% complete by Juliet MacurFebruary 6, 2026 at 07:25 PM

AI Summary

long article 4 min

Athletes competing in the upcoming Milan Winter Olympics are anticipating a vastly different experience compared to the 2022 Beijing Games. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Beijing Olympics largely barred spectators, creating a lonely and muted atmosphere for athletes. Many athletes, including American speedskater Brittany Bowe, felt their accomplishments were diminished by the absence of fans and loved ones. The Milan Games, beginning Friday, will be the first Winter Olympics since 2018 to welcome paying spectators. Athletes like Casey Dawson are eager for the energy and support of the crowd, which they believe enhances performance and overall enjoyment of the Olympic experience.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Pyeongchang 40% United States 40% Casey Dawson ×260% Milan 60% Covid-19 ×270% China ×370% Brittany Bowe ×380% Beijing ×790% Winter Olympics ×290%

Keywords

winter olympics 100% spectators 90% coronavirus pandemic 80% athletes 70% beijing 70% speedskating 60% fans 50% medal 50% pyeongchang 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Positive

Score: 0.40

Source Transparency

Source

New York Times - World

Political Lean

Center-Left (-0.30)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

Geographic Perspective

Beijing

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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winter olympics spectators coronavirus pandemic athletes beijing speedskating fans medal pyeongchang

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