Milano Cortina 2026 Opening Ceremony Boos US, Israeli Delegations
US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio led the American team. As Vance appeared on the stadium’s big screen waving the US flag, the crowd responded with audible jeers. “There is the Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha. Oops -- those are a lot of boos for him,” an announcer noted during the broadcast.
The reaction came amid tensions over the presence of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel in Milan. Homeland Security Investigations officers were confirmed to be part of Olympic security, sparking protests and opposition from Italian lawmakers and citizens. Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala described ICE as a “militia that kills” and said, “They’re not welcome in Milan.” Thousands gathered in Piazza 25 Aprile last weekend to protest the agents’ presence and raise civil rights concerns.
International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry urged respect during the ceremony, stating: “I hope that the opening ceremony is seen by everyone as an opportunity to be respectful of each other.”
The Israeli delegation, comprising nine Olympians and one Paralympian, also faced some boos, though the noise was mostly masked by music.
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