Greetings from Milano Speed Skating Stadium, where the men’s 500m gold medal event will kick off in just under 20 minutes. The United States’ only chance to medal is Casey Dawson, who will skate in the 8th of 10 pairs.
Meanwhile, the Kleintje Pils, a 15-person Dutch band, is playing a version of “Sweet Caroline” better than all the ones I’ve heard at Fenway Park for Red Sox games.
This is tradition. The group, whose name translates to “Small Beer,” has become a regular fixture on the Winter Olympic stage since Nagano in 1998.
As for this photo, it is from the 2010 Vancouver Games!