Saturday, 7 February 2026

Booing At Opening Ceremony

Prior to the Opening Ceremony of the Winter Olympics, The International Olympic Committee President made a plea for respect and to not boo any of the competitors carrying their flags, and just in case the San Siro Stadiums Music was turned up and the crowd noise dimmed on TV but at the first glimpse of the Israeli and the American flag, it was obvious that the music still wasn't loud, or the crowed noise dimmed enough, to disguise the crowd of 75,000 making their feelings known .    
As the games are spread out across Northern Italy at five Games Clusters, each Cluster also reported jeering, booing and whistling as the Stars and Stripes and Star of David showed itself.
The IOC faced pressure to ban Israel from competing over the genocide in Gaza but they rejected those calls, saying the usual thing about it not being political although that falls apart when you consider Russian and Belarus athletes are only allowed to compete under a neutral flag if they haven't openly backed the war in Ukraine so that's a nonsense excuse.
Ukraine and Venezuela received enthusiastic roars though and I am assuming many of the 232 American Athletes will be wandering Italy saying 'American? Nah mate, Canadian'.