Olympic Committee responds as two countries booed at opening ceremony despite stern warning not to
Callum Jones
Featured Image Credit: Andreas Rentz/Getty Images
The Olympic Committee has issued a response after athletes from both the US and Israel were booed at the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony on Friday (February 6).
Italy's famous San Siro played host to the opening ceremony, despite the games officially getting underway on Wednesday (February 4).
Mariah Carey headlined the show, while the iconic nations parade also took place as fans were introduced to all the countries involved in the Games.
Both the US and Israeli team’s walkout were greeted with boos, with the American side of things seemingly aimed at the vice president as jeers were heard as the cameras cut to JD Vance and his wife, Usha, who were waving American flags during the opening ceremony.
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CBC's broadcast of the event was certainly enlightening, as one of the commentators said: "There is the vice-president JD Vance and his wife Usha – oops, those are not … uh … those are a lot of boos for him. Whistling, jeering, some applause.”
The four athletes representing Israel were also booed as they entered the San Siro.
Now, the Olympic Committee has issued a response following the booing aimed at Vance in particular.
IOC spokesperson Mark Adams said at a press conference on Saturday (February 8): "What I would say from the IOC point of view is 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 going forward. That’s a great thing for the Olympic movement.
“We are largely a sports organisation and seeing the US team cheered as they were by the audience, fair play, that was fantastic, so very happy.
“In general at sporting events we like to see fair play, but in terms of having a good relationship with the administration, that’s good news for us.”
The spokesperson continued: “The whole idea, or one of the ideas of the Olympic Movement, is that the athletes shouldn’t be punished for whatever their governments have done, and I think that’s really important, that we see the athletes and athletic performance for what that says about humanity.
“I know the Italian supporters love their sport. I think when they start seeing amazing performances, whatever nationality, they will cheer those performances.”
Prior to the beginning of the Winter Olympics kicking off, IOC president Kirsty Coventry urged fans to be 'respectful' to all competing nations.