IOC defends athletes amid booing of Israeli team at winter games ceremony

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has urged spectators to uphold “fair play” after Israeli athletes were met with boos during the February 6 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony in Milan.

Loud jeers and whistles were heard as the Israeli delegation entered the San Siro stadium. The reaction prompted concern from the IOC, which reiterated its long-standing position that athletes should not be targeted for the actions of their governments, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

IOC spokesperson Mark Adams addressed the incident by calling for respectful conduct from spectators, particularly toward competing athletes.

“In terms of the athletes and the teams, whatever background, whatever country they’re from, I don’t think we like to see booing, we want to see sportsperson-like behaviour from everyone. It’s important that we support our athletes," he said. “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.”

The IOC later issued a broader appeal for sportsmanlike behaviour from all attendees when asked specifically about the reaction to the Israeli team.

The ceremony also included booing directed at US vice-president JD Vance, who was leading the American delegation alongside his wife, second lady Usha Vance. While American athletes initially received applause, the reaction shifted when the couple appeared on the stadium’s big screen, prompting television cameras to pan away.

Commenting generally on crowd behaviour, Adams said: “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.”

By Sabina Mammadli