Security Concerns shadow Milan Cortina Winter Olympics as US ICE Deployment sparks Outrage
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The specter of heightened security, a constant since the 1972 Munich olympics massacre, looms large over the upcoming Winter Games in Milan Cortina. While the 2024 paris Olympics were lauded for their comprehensive security measures, the planned involvement of US Immigration and customs Enforcement (ICE) has ignited a political firestorm even before the event even begins.
From Paris Benchmarks to Italian Protests
security at the Olympic Games has undergone a dramatic evolution since the tragic events in Munich. The French government demonstrated this evolution at the Paris Games, deploying an unprecedented 45,000 police officers and cordoning off six kilometers of the Seine River for the opening ceremony.Milipol Paris, a leading policing and security conference, highlighted the success of the operation, noting a decrease in crime and the prevention of major security incidents. “The operation demonstrated the effectiveness of advanced planning, inter-agency cooperation and strong logistical coordination,” a conference statement read. However, the extensive security measures weren’t without criticism, with some raising concerns about infringements on civil liberties.
ICE Deployment Fuels Political Firestorm
ahead of the Milan Cortina Games, scheduled for February 4-23, Italian officials initially assured the public thay were prepared to meet the security challenge. Plans included a new cybersecurity headquarters staffed with international officials, 6,000 security personnel protecting Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, a no-fly zone over key sites, and restricted access cordons mirroring those used in Paris. however, the revelation that some security personnel would be drawn from a unit within US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has sparked widespread condemnation.
Traditionally,the US Diplomatic Security Service has provided security for American athletes and officials at overseas mega-events since 1976. But the inclusion of ICE, known for its controversial Enforcement and Removal Operations division responsible for aggressive immigration enforcement, has raised alarm bells. US and Italian officials have attempted to clarify that the deployed personnel will be from Homeland Security investigations (HSI), which focuses on cross-border crime, and will be stationed at the US Consulate in Milan.
despite these assurances, the organization’s reputation precedes it. In Milan, demonstrations erupted, with left-wing Mayor Giuseppe sala branding ICE “a militia that kills.” The deployment has also exposed fractures within Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s governing coalition. While Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani defended the move,stating,”it’s not like the SS are coming,” referencing the Nazi paramilitary force,other local officials within Meloni’s coalition voiced their concerns.
Transatlantic Tensions and a Double Standard?
The ICE deployment underscores broader anxieties about US-European relations. The presence of US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the opening ceremony is also viewed with skepticism by some Europeans, who perceive Vance as an echo of former President Donald Trump’s agenda. Trump’s past actions – including his attempts to acquire Greenland and disparaging remarks about NATO – have strained transatlantic ties, as evidenced by recent protests by Danish veterans outside the US Embassy.
Critics are questioning whether a “double standard” exists in global politics and international sport. Despite the US engaging in military interventions in countries like Iran and Venezuela, and pursuing controversial policies towards Canada and Mexico, American athletes are still permitted to compete under their nation’s flag. This contrasts sharply with the situation facing Belarusian and Russian athletes, who are only allowed to compete as Individual Neutral Athletes following the invasion of Ukraine, subject to stringent eligibility assessments by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Similarly, calls for a ban on Israeli athletes following the October 2023 invasion of Gaza, with a United Nations panel urging FIFA to take action, have been resisted by both FIFA and the IOC, who continue to defend Israeli athletes’ right to participate.
The Olympic ideal Under Strain
The current political climate casts a shadow over the IOC’s 2021 decision to update the Olympic motto to “faster, higher, stronger – together,” emphasizing the “unifying power of sport and the importance of solidarity.” Whether the Milan Cortina Games can truly embody this expanded ideal, and move beyond simply achieving “faster, higher, stronger,” remains to be seen.
