IOC President Says ICE, Epstein Files Are 'Sad' Distractions Ahead of Milan Games
Kirsty Coventry said ICE deployment and Epstein-related emails are 'sad' distractions as the Milan Cortina Winter Games open Feb. 6-22.
Overview
IOC President Kirsty Coventry said in Milan on Sunday that it was "sad" that the deployment of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and newly released Epstein-related files were distracting from the Milan Cortina Winter Games, which open Feb. 6.
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Piazza XXV Aprile in Milan to protest the presence of ICE agents, who organizers said will be stationed in a control room and not operating on city streets.
Casey Wasserman issued an apology for flirty emails with Ghislaine Maxwell dated 2003, and Coventry said she had not been in contact with Wasserman and declined further comment, according to their statements.
The Milan Cortina Games run Feb. 6-22 and will include a U.S. delegation led by Vice President JD Vance attending the opening ceremony, while Olympic executive director Christophe Dubi said the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena will seat 11,800 despite last-minute construction.
Coventry and IOC officials said they are monitoring media reports, that they "need some time to look into" the Epstein files and security questions, and that they expect to press ahead with the Games beginning Feb. 6.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story as a U.S.-driven controversy distracting from the Games, using evaluative verbs ('dominating the narrative,' 'fend them off'), foregrounding protesters and Epstein-file revelations, and placing Coventry's brief, deflective responses early in the piece; these language and placement choices steer readers toward a disruption-focused narrative.
FAQ
The 2026 Winter Olympics will run from February 6 to 22 in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, the first Games officially co-hosted by two cities.
Kirsty Coventry described the U.S. ICE agents' deployment and newly released Epstein-related files as 'sad' distractions from the upcoming Milan Cortina Winter Games opening on February 6.
Organizers stated that ICE agents will be stationed in a control room and not operating on city streets.
Casey Wasserman apologized for flirty emails with Ghislaine Maxwell from 2003; IOC President Coventry had no contact with him and declined further comment.
Vice President JD Vance will lead the U.S. delegation attending the opening ceremony of the Milan Cortina Games.
