Cortina d'Ampezzo: The Most Beautiful Olympic Venue Ever

Cortina d'Ampezzo didn't need much help from the broadcasters. The Dolomites rise directly behind the alpine and biathlon courses, and the combination of clean snow, sharp mountain light, and the Italian villages threaded through the landscape made every camera angle look staged for a tourism ad, even when it wasn't. It was the most photographed Olympic venue since Lillehammer in 1994 — a rare case of the scenery competing with the sport for attention.