Olympic Opening Turns Tense as Crowd Boos
What was meant to be “a moment of unity at the 2026 Winter Olympics” instead became a controversial scene during the opening ceremony in Milan.
As excitement filled the stadium, the mood shifted when Team USA appeared on screen and “sections of the crowd responded with loud boos,” despite Olympic calls for neutrality.
The reaction was widely linked to protests in the host city and anger over “U.S. immigration enforcement policies,” rather than the athletes themselves.
Organizers had urged spectators to separate politics from sport, yet the moment showed how global tensions often surface at international events.
Online responses were “swift and divided,” with many defending the athletes and others viewing the boos as political expression.
The tension deepened after skier Gus Kenworthy criticized U.S. policies, reinforcing that the Games were unfolding amid debate.
Although the ceremony continued with performances and celebration, for many viewers “Team USA’s entrance remained the defining image of the night.”
