sports
February 1, 2026
‘Distracting and sad’: Olympics chief laments ICE protests and Epstein fallout
The International Olympic Committee has admitted that it is “distracting and sad” that the buildup to the Winter Olympics has been dominated by the deployment of ICE agents to Milan-Cortina and the appearance of the Los Angeles 2028 chair, Casey Wasserman, in the Epstein files. However Kirsty Coventry, the IOC president, insisted that once the Games begin on Friday, their “magic and spirit” would take over.
TL;DR
- IOC president Kirsty Coventry acknowledges distractions in the Winter Olympics buildup, including ICE agents and Casey Wasserman's inclusion in Epstein files.
- Coventry believes the "magic and spirit" of the Games will overcome these distractions once they begin.
- Protests against ICE agents took place in Milan, with the mayor expressing that the agents were not welcome.
- The IOC is investigating reports of another IOC member appearing in the Epstein files.
- Construction of the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena is going down to the wire but is expected to be ready.
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