2026 Winter Games in Milan-Cortina ignite political and ethical storms
The 2026 Winter Games in Milan and Cortina have already sparked epic controversy before the opening ceremony. Debate has flared over the involvement of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), an agency criticized for human rights violations. Meanwhile, broader political tensions—long a feature of the Olympics—remain unresolved as the event approaches.
Politics and the Olympics have always been intertwined. The 1936 Winter Games in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and the 2014 Sochi Olympics both became stages for ideological battles. Authoritarian regimes and democracies alike have used the Games to project power, while the International Olympic Committee (IOC) struggles to reconcile its ideals of peace and anti-discrimination with reality.
The IOC's promises of sustainability often fall short. Past Olympics left behind abandoned venues, and recent events have seen little progress in reducing waste or environmental harm. Economic and security concerns also linger, though discussions on these issues are frequently overshadowed by more visible controversies.
The upcoming Games in Italy and the U.S. are hosted by democratic nations, yet this does not guarantee greater transparency or accountability. The IOC itself faces a persistent dilemma: how to include authoritarian states while upholding democratic values, given that most competing nations are not full democracies.
New IOC president Kirsty Coventry has drawn scrutiny over her political past. Her early career began under Zimbabwe's former leader Robert Mugabe, raising questions about her alignment with the organisation's stated principles. Meanwhile, the presence of ICE at the Winter Games has become a flashpoint, diverting attention from other unresolved challenges like economic fairness and long-term sustainability.
The 2026 Winter Games will proceed under familiar pressures. Political debates, security concerns, and sustainability issues remain unresolved, just as in previous Olympics. For spectators, the event offers both sport and a reminder of the enduring tensions between idealism and real-world politics.
