The Winter Olympics officially open in Italy on Friday, with organisers hoping for a celebration of winter sport at Milano Cortina 2026 over the following 16 days. But beneath the spectacle of downhill skiers, snowboarders and figure skaters, a fresh cold war is brewing amid global political chaos.
This week the IOC president, Kirsty Coventry, called for sport to be a neutral ground, separate from politics and the actions of governments. However, tensions have already surfaced. US Olympic officials renamed an athlete hospitality space in Milan from the Ice House to the Winter House, following protests over fatal shootings by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. The American figure skater Amber Glenn said the term “ice” was no longer something to embrace because of what is happening and the implications of what some people are doing.
Italy’s foreign minister revealed that the country had thwarted a series of cyberattacks “of Russian origin” targeting websites linked to the Winter Olympics. There are 13 Russian competitors at the Games under the banner of Authorised Neutral Athletes, banned because of the war in Ukraine. The Russian skating champion Adelia Petrosian, 18, is among them, coached in Milan by the controversial Georgian Eteri Tutberidze, who was condemned by the IOC four years ago for her “tremendous coldness” after being seen screaming at the then 15-year-old Kamila Valieva.
The Ukrainian skeleton star Vladyslav Heraskevych, who made headlines in Beijing with a sign reading “No War In Ukraine”, said there is war fatigue that makes people forget Russia is a terrorist state. He said Ukrainians are being bombed every day and are sitting in houses without water and heating in minus 20 degrees. He added that he had been contacted by the IOC and warned not to protest at the Olympics.
Further flashpoints are expected. Pro-Palestinian activists plan a demonstration on Thursday when the Olympic flame arrives in Milan to protest against Israel’s participation in the Games, while environmental groups intend to march later in the week.
