Olympic Committee responds after two countries booed at opening ceremony despite stern warning

As the Winter Olympics officially kicked off last night (6 February), the opening ceremony was filled with all sorts of spectacles.

From Mariah Carey’s performance to viewers claiming there were ‘satanic symbols’, there was, of course, the iconic nations parade.

The core ceremony took place at the San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy, but it was actually spread across four different venues in northern Italy.

But despite the spectators in the European country being given a stern warning by the IOC president, Kirsty Coventry, there was booing during the parade for two countries.

And the Olympic Committee has now responded to the less-than-peaceful reaction during the US and Israeli team’s walkout, as it encouraged ‘fair play’.

Although it’s worth noting that, at least for the Americans, the booing wasn’t necessarily for the athletes themselves.

The US Vice President and second lady faced boos from the crowd. (Alexander NEMENOV / AFP via Getty Images)

Cameras cut to Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha, who were waving American flags during the parade, and there was an audible mixed reaction from the crowd.

During CBC’s broadcast for Canada, one of its commentators said: “There is the vice-president JD Vance and his wife Usha – oops, those are not … uh … those are a lot of boos for him. Whistling, jeering, some applause.”

This boo’ing, however, was reportedly cut from NBC’s broadcast for the Winter Olympics in the States.

There were also jeers and whistles when the four athletes representing Israel walked out in the parade.

During a press conference today, IOC spokesperson Mark Adams was asked about the booing of Vance, and he said: “What I would say from the IOC point of view is with the next Games coming up in Los Angeles, we are super happy that the US administration is so engaged with the Games here and going forward. That’s a great thing for the Olympic movement.

Athletes from the Israel team received some booing. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

“We are largely a sports organisation and seeing the US team cheered as they were by the audience, fair play, that was fantastic, so very happy.

“In general at sporting events we like to see fair play, but in terms of having a good relationship with the administration, that’s good news for us.”

And the chief executive for Milano-Cortina 2026 was asked a more pointed question on Italy’s view of the US administration, which he dodged.

“I was there,” he said. “I heard an incredible cheering when the US team entered the stadium, that’s what I heard. I didn’t hear anything else, I just read in the papers. The cheering was amazing.”

On the response to the Israeli athletes, Adams said that regardless of ‘whatever background’ or ‘whatever country’ the teams are from, he doesn’t ‘like to see booing’.

“We want to see sportsperson-like behaviour from everyone. It’s important that we support our athletes.”

The spokesperson continued: “The whole idea, or one of the ideas of the Olympic Movement, is that the athletes shouldn’t be punished for whatever their governments have done, and I think that’s really important, that we see the athletes and athletic performance for what that says about humanity.

“I know the Italian supporters love their sport. I think when they start seeing amazing performances, whatever nationality, they will cheer those performances.”

LADbible Group has contacted NBC Universal News Group for comment.