Police use tear gas and water cannons on protesters near Winter Olympics
Police used tear gas and water cannon on demonstrators near the Olympic venue at the end of a march against the Olympic Games’ environmental impact.
MILAN – Police fired tear gas and used water cannon to disperse protesters near the Winter Olympics venue on Saturday, February 7, according to a travel alert issued by The Associated Press and international security firm Global Guardian.
The clashes occurred at the end of a brief, peaceful march by thousands of people protesting the environmental impact of the Games and the presence of American agents in Italy, according to the Associated Press. The incident occurred near the Santa Giulia Olympic Ice Hockey Rink.
At least five demonstrators were arrested in Milan’s Marochetti and Mompiani as of Friday afternoon, according to a Global Guardian alert. The company cited local media as a source of detailed information.
“Expect increased security and associated disruption in the affected areas over the next several hours,” the security alert said. “Please plan to detour. Avoid all protests.”
It is unclear whether the Associated Press and Guardian Global News cited the same protests, but both reports included similar details and locations.
The demonstrators held placards protesting the environmental, economic and social impacts of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, Reuters reported. According to Reuters, one of the placards read, “We want a nation ruled by the rule of law, not by force and privilege for the wealthy. ICE out.”
Olympic officials said at a pre-Olympic press conference earlier this week that they had expected protests during the Games, specifically citing Thursday’s environmental protest and another Saturday’s protest.
“Typically we just notify the delegation and let them know where the protest is taking place,” said Nicole Deal, chief security officer for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee. “So when they read books about this city, they recognize that.”
Following the deadly shooting in Minneapolis and other clashes between ICE and American citizens, Italian citizens protested the presence of ICE agents at the Olympics. Milan’s mayor, Giuseppe Sala, told local reporters that the agency was “definitely not welcome in Milan.” Diehl said there were no ICE officers in the Team USA delegation in Milan, but he could not comment on whether they were part of the U.S. embassy’s overall Olympic security plan.
Milan demonstrators denounce the influence of the Winter Olympics
Thousands of people marched through Milan on the first day of the Winter Olympics to protest housing costs and urban affordability.
As a result, US Figure Skating, USA Hockey and US Speed Skating will change the name of their hospitality venue from Ice House to Winter House.
“Our hospitality concept was designed to be a private, distraction-free space where athletes, their families and friends can come together to celebrate the unique experience of the Winter Olympics,” the NGB said in a joint statement provided to USA TODAY Sports, which first reported the changes. “The name captures that vision and ties in with seasons and events.”
USA TODAY sportswriters Jordan Mendoza and Christine Brennan contributed to this report.
