Snowball Effect
During the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, fans flock to their screens every night to watch live broadcasts of snow sports they never imagined possible, but by the end of the evening, they’re more confused and maybe even more furious than ever. While the Olympians, the coaches, and their respective sport’s judges have spent a lifetime immersed in their niche winter games, non-official spectators rage over persistent injustices in those fields. Racing to their phones to double-check the rules and to watch instant replays, viewers can throw their hat in the ring post-event, ardently sharing their opinion through commentary videos, Tweets, or status updates. Since broadcasters implemented instant-replays during the 1960 Winter Olympics, you’d think that the Olympic Committee would have upgraded their scoring and judging system, but they are stuck in the past.
Sport experts have been entrenched in their passions for a lifetime, likely ignoring any broken aspects about the system or rules. Yet, amateurs, who lack any experience whatsoever, might be more capable of noticing fractures in the integrity of winter games. In this rare case, it’s the untrained eye that sees all.
Society used to blindly respect a judge or a referee’s on-field call, but now with live-action replays, easily accessible rulebooks, and money on the game, the passionate at-home spectators, notoriously called “armchair umpires,” have loud opinions. Social media plays a role in the emboldened voices of spectators online, platforming amateurs like never before and giving regular folks a megaphone of online influence. Over the last several decades, these online voices and the ever-growing magnifying glass atop spectator sports have severely impacted the Winter Olympics. Amateur commentators have increased the chatter and controversy surrounding Olympic events and their somewhat ambiguous rules of many winter games. Based on tradition and sportsmanship, many winter sports rely on the idea that athletes will inherently self-regulate and judges will be impartial, but world-weary specialists of society know that humanity isn’t so honorable.
Competitions need a referee, and these days, every spectator has become something of an amateur linesman themselves.
The Canadian Curler Controversy
Curling has been on the forefront of media attention over the last few days, and rightfully so. Much like shuffleboard, in curling, players slide a heavy rock down a field of ice, aiming for a target at the end of the play area. Sharing the arena with their opponents, this game tends to get very heated as opposing players knock rocks off the scoreboard and repeatedly thwart the attempts of their rivals. However, none of the spectators expected players to get so heated in the 2026 round-up curling matches until now. Marc Kennedy, a now-infamous team member from Canada, cursed out the Swedish team captain, Oskar Eriksson. Live on a hot mic, audiences watched as two curlers nearly came to blows over a wild accusation that would ultimately turn the curling world upside down.
Via u/gkkpbcdd
Marc Kennedy, one of the curlers on the Canadian team, repeatedly booped the edge of the curling stone, giving it an extra boost before sending it towards the target. To the untrained eye, that doesn’t seem to matter much because he’s still behind the release line, but to the Swedish team, this unlawful finger push was enough to get the Canadians disqualified according to the curler’s rule handbook. Apparently, players are only meant to touch the handle of the stone, and never the stone itself. However, curling is widely self-regulated and there are few, or sometimes no referees onsite to manage sportsmanship. Having been deregulated for so long, curlers are just supposed to honorably follow the rules, but this controversy revealed that honor has been thrown out the window. On top of that, Canada clapped back saying that Sweden illegally filmed the transgression, which led to widespread outrage and undermined integrity of the sport.
Let the curling mind games begin.
Whether they’re rooting for team Sweden or team Canada, the accusation spurred an acute interest in the actual rules and regulations of curling, and the controversy spread like wildfire. Luckily, as the internet has proven time and time again, nothing slips through the cracks when millions of amateurs become involved.
The best angles of Marc Kennedy's infractions and the argument afterward
Via u/MissKorea19977
Eriksson, the Swedish curler, allegedly notified the Swedish videographer onsite to pay close attention to the Canadian team’s moves, and although it never aired on North American TV, the Swedes broadcast the truth behind Kennedy’s transgressions, as well as the colorful language and heated fight that occurred at the 9th end of their match. The unreleased footage, and undeniable proof of the misdemeanor, rocked the internet, Olympic integrity, and the entirety of the curling world. “The fallout challenges ‘the spirit of curling,’” according to NPR journalist, Pien Huan. “And it raises questions about the future of the sport.” Upon further review, and following the jarring Swedish broadcast, it becomes clear that Kennedy was, in fact, breaking the rules. However, in the moment, there was no coverage and Canada walked away victoriously with a semi-final position secured. The official Olympic committee also followed up without any retribution, but the controversy has brought on loads of scrutiny.
Via u/stevensongs
The good news is, with the final medalist match scheduled for Saturday February 21st, spectators, fans, commentators, judges, and onsite referees will no doubt become extra vigilant following this shocking scandal. Perhaps the vigilante-esque armchair umpires and the power of the internet will be enough to change the way this sport is judged and surveyed from now on, ensuring fair gameplay in the future.
Unwitting Watchmen
Likewise to the curler controversy, a French figure skating judge went viral because she scored a French figure skating duo more favorably than they deserved, only to be called out by spectators afterwards for obvious favoritism. Controversies like these have shaken this year’s Winter Olympics to its core, proving that subjective sports deserve an objective eye to watch over them. Ironically, spectators who know next to nothing about a niche sport, have proven to be the perfect receptacle for fairness, shining a spotlight on centuries-old practices that must change alongside updated technology, increased viewership, and higher-stakes competition.
These athletes aren’t mere jesters doing tricks for entertainment purposes. They’re competing on a global stage on a four year basis, hoping to secure brand deals, sponsorships, bragging rights, and gold medals. They aim to have the notoriety of their skills carry them along to the next flashbang obsession surrounding their life’s work. The stakes have never been higher, and thus, the regulations to limit cheating and unsportsmanlike behavior must follow suit. The watchdog nature of amateur audiences provides the social pressure required for real change, and the Winter Olympics will inevitably be better for it.
