Fans Display Greenland Flag at Olympic Hockey Game in Pro-European Unity Gesture
Two supporters who raised the flag of Greenland during a men's hockey match between the United States and Denmark at the Winter Olympics have stated that their action was intended as a gesture of European solidarity with the island and Denmark. The incident occurred on Saturday in Milan, highlighting ongoing political tensions surrounding Greenland's status.
Symbolic Act Amid Political Tensions
Vita Kalniņa and her husband, Alexander Kalniņš, who are Latvian hockey enthusiasts residing in Germany, unfurled a large red and white Greenland flag during warmups and again when Denmark scored the opening goal in the preliminary round game. The United States ultimately secured a 6-3 victory over Denmark.
"For us as Europeans, it was important to show up with this symbol as a symbol of European unity that we support Greenland," Kalniņš explained to The Associated Press. This act comes in the wake of recent rhetoric from former US President Donald Trump about acquiring Greenland, which has sparked national pride in Denmark and garnered support from across Europe.
Venue Staff Intervene Over Safety Concerns
During the game, venue staff instructed Kalniņa and Kalniņš to stop displaying the flag, citing safety reasons due to potential aggression from American fans, even as American flags were waved freely throughout the stands. The couple complied to avoid disruption and continue watching the match.
"I think the message was sent," Kalniņš remarked, noting that the flag had already been visible to attendees and television viewers. The status of the Greenland flag at the Olympics remains ambiguous, as Greenland does not field its own team; its athletes, such as biathletes Ukaleq and Sondre Slettemark, compete under Denmark's banner.
Official Olympic Guidelines and Fan Perspectives
According to guidelines on the official Olympic website for the opening ceremony, fans are permitted to bring only "flags of countries and territories participating in the Games." Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, adding complexity to the situation.
Kalniņa and Kalniņš expressed a desire for Greenlanders to know that Europe supports the Arctic island, regardless of whether it remains part of Denmark or pursues full independence. "It's not OK that Trump and America are this aggressive and try to incorporate the island into their country," Kalniņš asserted.
Players and Fans Emphasize Sports Over Politics
Meanwhile, Danish athletes involved in the so-called "Greenland Derby" maintained that politics did not influence their performance on the ice. Captain Jesper Jensen Aabo stated, "We just wanted to win a hockey game against a world-class team. We didn't need extra fire to fire us up. We were ready for the game even though there's stuff going around in the real world, so that's nothing that affected us at all." He added that he did not notice the Greenland flag in the stands but appreciated the support.
Other fans from both the United States and Denmark echoed this sentiment, believing that sports should transcend political disputes. Danish fan Dennis Petersen, with his face painted in red and white to represent the Danish flag, told the AP, "It doesn't matter whatever sport it is—it could be tennis, it could be bobsledding, it can be ice hockey, it could be football—it has nothing to do with politics. They are athletes, not politicians."
American fan Rem de Rohan, wearing a stars and stripes jacket, agreed, saying, "I think this is the time for people to kind of put that down and compete country versus country and enjoy. We love rooting on every country that's been here."
This report includes contributions from Kostya Manenkov, James Ellingworth, and Stephen Whyno in Milan, underscoring the broader context of the event within the Winter Olympics framework.
