THE Winter Olympics are almost here, but in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, the countdown is less champagne corks and more construction dust.
With just days until the opening ceremony, cranes still litter key sites and hospitality areas resemble building zones rather than Olympic spectacles. Journalists from across the world have arrived, only to find venues still finding their final shape. Organisers insist everything will be ready in time, but the optics are hard to ignore.
Billions have been spent on ice rinks, transport links and temporary venues, all designed to deliver a slick and smooth global spectacle. Yet excitement doesn’t appear universal. Many young people in Southampton have admitted they’re unlikely to watch. Questions have been asked about the Winter Olympics’ pull beyond traditional audiences.
And the loudest noise around these Games isn’t coming from the slopes.
Italy’s right-wing government has confirmed that the United States’ Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, ICE, will provide what it calls “intelligent advice” on Olympic security. The decision has sparked backlash, with critics pointing to ICE’s controversial record on immigration enforcement in the US and recent shootings in Minnesota.
Reaction on the ground has been far from supportive. Several people described the move as unnecessary, while one Italian resident went further, calling ICE “a militia that kills”. For many, the agency’s involvement directly contradicts Olympic ideals of unity and peace.
As Milan-Cortina counts down to its moment on the world stage, the question isn’t just whether the venues will be finished – but if controversy will steal the spotlight before the first medal is even won.
