05/02/2026 – 15:12 GMT+1
The US vice president leads the US delegation at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, calling the Games a rare unifying moment as world leaders gather for the opening.
US Vice President JD Vance arrived in Milan Thursday for the Winter Olympics, leading what he described as a unifying moment for Americans as 22 heads of state prepare to attend Friday’s opening ceremony.
Vance told US athletes competing in the Milan Cortina Winter Games that the competition “is one of the few things that unites the entire country.”
The vice president is leading President Donald Trump’s delegation to the 2026 Winter Olympics before travelling to Armenia and Azerbaijan in a show of support for a peace agreement brokered by the White House last year.
Vance said he would watch the US women’s hockey team play the Czech Republic in a preliminary game Thursday. “The whole country — Democrat, Republican, independent — we’re all rooting for you and we’re cheering for you,” he told athletes.
The US delegation is the largest among competing nations at the Games. Fourteen aircraft brought US officials, intelligence personnel and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to Italy, who were escorted by Italian police to the Excelsior Hotel Gallia near Central Station.
The presence of ICE agents in Italy sparked controversy last week, prompting US Ambassador to Italy Tilman Fertitta to clarify they would serve in an advisory role focused on transnational crime intelligence rather than enforcement operations.
At Friday’s opening ceremony, Vance will lead a delegation including his wife Usha Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ambassador Fertitta. Former Olympic gold medalists will also attend, including hockey players Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson and Monique Lamoureux-Morando, speed skater Apolo Ohno and figure skater Evan Lysacek.
Twenty-two heads of state have confirmed attendance at the opening ceremony, which will be staged at San Siro stadium at 8 pm Friday, along with UN Secretary General António Guterres.
Leaders expected to attend include German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the sovereigns of Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden, Prince Albert of Monaco, the Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Emir Al Thani of Qatar and Queen Suthida of Thailand.
Preliminary events already under way
The opening ceremony will mark the formal start of competition following preliminary events that began earlier this week.
Italy’s reigning Olympic champion mixed doubles curling team of Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner beat South Korea 8-4 Thursday morning at the Cortina Ice Stadium. They face Canada at 7 pm Thursday.
The first women’s ice hockey matches began Thursday afternoon at the Santagiulia Arena in Milan, with Italy playing France in a preliminary round shortly after 2 pm. Training sessions in downhill skiing, ski jumping and luge also commenced.
The Olympic torch arrived in Milan Thursday afternoon, passing through the Bocconi area and former Fiera area before moving toward Sforzesco Castle and Piazza Duomo.
On Friday, the flame will pass through the Navigli, Piazza Gae Aulenti and the Monumental Cemetery before ending its journey across Italy at the Arco della Pace ahead of the opening ceremony.
