Boos and protests: the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics was marked by politics

The opening ceremony of the Milan–Cortina Winter Olympics was a grand celebration of Italy, but it also revealed political tensions that go beyond sport.

At the San Siro stadium, cheers were mixed with boos—US Vice President J. D. Vance was the target of ridicule, and the Israeli team provoked mixed reactions at both venues.

Ukrainian athletes, however, received significant support from the audience. International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry called for unity and reminded everyone that the Olympic Games should unite, not divide.

A powerful symbol of the ceremony was the historic first simultaneous lighting of two Olympic cauldrons in Milan and Cortina. The program was enriched by a performance by Mariah Carey and a tribute to Italian fashion and culture.

Although the ceremony was visually impressive, it was accompanied by protests in Milan and chaos surrounding access to Cortina. The opening of the Games thus indicated that this time around, sport will take place in the shadow of broader geopolitical and social disputes.

(reuters)