Skip to main content
Tags: vance | ioc | booing | olympics

After Boos for Vance, IOC Says it Hopes for 'Fair Play'

Saturday, 07 February 2026 10:04 AM EST

The International Olympic Committee said on Saturday it hoped for "fair play" after US Vice President JD Vance was booed at the opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.

There were audible boos at the San Siro stadium in Milan when Vance, who was attending Friday's ceremony with his wife Usha, appeared on a big screen.

The US team itself was loudly applauded.

"With the vice president, what I would say is that with the next Games coming up in Los Angeles we are super happy that the US administration is so engaged with the Games here and obviously going forward that's a great thing for the Olympic movement," IOC communications director Mark Adams told a news conference.

"I was in the stadium last night and we're largely a sports organisation and seeing the US team cheered as they were by the audience, fair play, that was fantastic," he added.

"In general, I would say at sporting events, we like to see fair play but in terms of having a good relationship with the administration, that is only good news for us."

IOC chief Kirsty Coventry, the former Zimbabwean swimmer and sports minister, met Vance for the first time before the ceremony to discuss preparations for the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.

Adams said the meeting "went incredibly well" and that they had "very good chemistry" but said he could give no further details of the content of their discussions.

Hundreds protested in Milan on Friday against Vance's visit and the presence of some agents from the US immigration enforcement agency ICE who are in Italy to help protect the American delegation.

The Israeli team also received a smattering of boos when it entered the stadium for the athletes' parade.

Adams said: "Whatever background they're from, I don't think you want to see any booing there.

"If you want to get philosophical about it, one of the ideas is that the athletes shouldn't be punished for whatever their country has done."

© AFP 2026


US
The International Olympic Committee said on Saturday it hoped for "fair play" after US Vice President JD Vance was booed at the opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.
vance, ioc, booing, olympics
332
2026-04-07
Saturday, 07 February 2026 10:04 AM
Newsmax Media, Inc.

Sign up for Newsmax’s Daily Newsletter

Receive breaking news and original analysis - sent right to your inbox.

(Optional for Local News)
Privacy: We never share your email address.
Join the Newsmax Community
Read and Post Comments
Please review Community Guidelines before posting a comment.
 
TOP

Interest-Based Advertising | Do not sell or share my personal information

Newsmax, Moneynews, Newsmax Health, and Independent. American. are registered trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc. Newsmax TV, and Newsmax World are trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc.

NEWSMAX.COM
America's News Page
© Newsmax Media, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Download the Newsmax App
NEWSMAX.COM
America's News Page
© Newsmax Media, Inc.
All Rights Reserved