Get the best France vs. Czechia predictions ahead of their Olympic clash on Friday. Free Olympic hockey picks for February 13.

With all eyes on the Milan Cortina Olympics, the organization of the Winter Games in France in four years' time is faltering. Internal tensions have multiplied in recent months, against a backdrop of several resignations,

France’s polarizing figure skating duo of Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron narrowly edged America’s Madison Chock and Evan Bates to win gold in the ice dance competition at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

MILAN (AP) — Hockey was not televised, at least not for free, in France when Pierre-Edouard Bellemare was growing up there. The rare chance he got to watch the sport he loved came every four years at the Olympics.

NICE, FRANCE (WITN) - Just over 250 miles west of the central hub for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, Italy, sits Nice, France, stretched along the blue curve of the Mediterranean Sea. Palm trees line the Promenade des Anglais. Sunlight glistens off the water in the Bay of Angels. It does not look like an Olympic city.

The figure skating world is screaming “sacré bleu” over the scoring by French judge Jezabel Dabouis that cost American pair Madison Chock and Evan Bates gold in the ice dance competition. Dabouis’ scoring has come under intense scrutiny in the 24 hours after controversial French duo Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron edged out Chock and Bates with a total score of 225.

Both were without partners, neither imagined they would be back at the Olympics. They have referred to this whirlwind season as "bonus time."

Italy used dual passport players to bolster their roster this year. When France hosts in 2030, they could lean on an abundance of French Canadian talent from Quebec to make their roster competitive.