Milan (Italy) (AFP) - The International Olympic Committee (IOC) called for respect for "fair play" and sportsmanship this Saturday, a day after the boos against the American vice president, JD Vance, during the opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Winter Games.

First modification: 02/07/2026 - 13:19

"The next Games will take place in Los Angeles (in 2028, summer) and we are very happy that the American administration here shows so much commitment to the Games. Obviously, for the future, it is something excellent for the Olympic movement," declared IOC spokesman Mark Adams during his daily meeting with the press in Milan.

"I was at the stadium (on Friday) and, as a sports organization, seeing the American team cheered by the public as it was, with fair play, was fantastic," he added.

"Personally, I would say that during sporting events we want to see fair play. Having good relations with the (American) administration can only be good news for us," he stressed.

JD Vance was booed when the video scoreboard at the San Siro stadium showed his image, along with his wife Usha, waving American flags while their athletes paraded, an AFP journalist confirmed.

The music from the public address system largely hid the intensity of those boos, while the athletes were warmly received by the spectators of a stadium that has capacity for 75,000 people.

The new IOC president, Kirsty Coventry, had a meeting with Vance before the ceremony.

According to the IOC spokesperson, at that meeting there was "very good harmony" between the two leaders, without giving details about the content of the conversations.

JD Vance also had a meeting Friday in Milan with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and there the two celebrated their "common values."

Coinciding with Vance's presence in Milan, hundreds of people demonstrated in the economic capital of Italy against that visit and the presence at these Olympic Games of agents of the American anti-immigration police (ICE).

During the opening ceremony, boos were also heard as the Israeli delegation passed by.

"Whatever the reasons, I don't think we want to hear boos," Mark Adams said.

"Athletes should not be penalized for what their country does," he said.

© 2026 AFP

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