The Olympics and Politics Are More Intertwined Than Ever. Maybe That's a Good Thing

"During the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milano Cortina, the crowd at San Siro stadium cheered when the US team entered during the parade of nations. When the camera cut to Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance, the jeers began. A few days prior, protesters had gathered in Milan following reports that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents would be coming to the Italian city for the Games."

"Going into the Winter Games, several US athletes expressed discomfort at representing a country currently in turmoil over ICE's actions in Minnesota and the Trump administration's attacks on immigrants and the LGBTQ+ community. 'Just 'cause I'm wearing the flag doesn't mean I represent everything that's going on in the US,' freestyle skier Hunter Hess said during a press conference at the beginning of the Games when asked how it felt to be on Team USA during Trump's immigration crackdown."

"Figure skater Amber Glenn, who came out as pansexual in 2019, told reporters the current political climate in the US is an opportunity for the queer community to support other groups also facing threats to their human rights. "It's made us a lot stronger," she said. For better or worse, the Olympics are typically a place of unabashed, corny nationalism. No one is better at that than Americans. (Cue the chants of "USA! USA!")"

The opening ceremony in Milano Cortina featured cheers for Team USA and jeers aimed at Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance. Protests occurred in Milan after reports that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents would be present during the Games. Several U.S. athletes expressed discomfort representing a country amid ICE actions and the administration's attacks on immigrants and LGBTQ+ people. Freestyle skier Hunter Hess said wearing the flag does not mean representing everything in the U.S.; figure skater Amber Glenn said the climate has strengthened queer solidarity with other threatened groups. Olympic nationalism confronted athlete questioning of flag symbolism.

Read at WIRED