(NEXSTAR) - Figure skaters were among the first athletes to take the ice for practice at the Milan Cortina Olympic Games as they prepare for the start of competition this week. The first day of the figure skating team event is scheduled to begin Friday in Milan. Several American favorites participated in the initial practice session, marking their first time skating over the Olympic rings in Italy. The group includes world champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates, as well as Ilia Malinin, who is entering his first Olympic games. Chock and Bates are competing in their fourth Olympics together. While they have not been favorites in previous games, the pair enters this competition having won three consecutive world championships. Chock expressed confidence in their preparation and career dedication. "I think this is our time. We've had a lifetime of a work and dedication to our craft and our passion and it feels like this is it," Chock said. Malinin, often referred to by the nickname "Quad God," is expected to be a prominent figure in the Milan games. This marks the first Olympic appearance for Malinin, who noted the significance of seeing the rings for the first time during the practice session. "You know, just still the feeling is surreal being here at the Olympics in Milan," Malinin said. Amber Glenn joined the Olympic roster after a performance at the U.S. Championships where she beat Alysa Liu. Beyond her athletic performance, Glenn has been a vocal advocate for social change, focusing on diversity and inclusion within the sport. Glenn addressed the decision to rename the hospitality space used for figure skating, hockey and speed skating. The facility, originally called "Ice House," has been renamed "Winter House." Glenn said the previous name carried a negative connotation that was disheartening to see associated with the sport. Figure skating competition officially begins on Friday in Milan. The schedule starts with the opening day of the team competition. All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by Nexstar. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by Nexstar staff before being published.