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Live sport on SN this weekendUSA cheers turn to jeers at Milan opening ceremony
AP • February 7th, 2026 1:21 pm
Team USA enjoyed the reaction to their entry at the Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Milan | Photo: AP
American athletes have received an enthusiastic welcome at the opening ceremony for the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, but the mood shifted when cameras briefly turned to Vice President JD Vance.
Led by speedskater and flag bearer Erin Jackson, Team USA were among the last delegations to enter Milan's San Siro soccer stadium in the parade of nations on Friday night (Saturday NZ time).
The crowd cheered for the Americans but jeers and whistles could be heard as Vance and his wife, second lady Usha Vance, were shown on the stadium screens, waving American flags from the tribune.
Support for the US among its allies has been eroding as the Trump administration has taken an aggressive posture on foreign policy, including punishing tariffs, military action in Venezuela and threats to invade Greenland.
US Vice President JD Vance and his wife were not the most popular attendees at the opening ceremony | Photo: AP
Jeers also rang out when Israel's delegation entered the stadium. There have been some calls for Israel to be banned from the Olympics over the war in Gaza, which began with Hamas' deadly attack in October 2023.
The contingent from Venezuela got a big backing when entering. So did that from Ukraine, where a war continues four years after Russia invaded.
Besides Milan, athlete parades were held in three other locations: Cortina d'Ampezzo, Livigno and Predazzo. The Games are staged across a vast area of the northern Italy, making them the most geographically dispersed Winter Olympics in history.
