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International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry lamented the big news stories that have consumed the world ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Coventry faced questions about the controversy surrounding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in the United States and the Jeffrey Epstein files that were released when she spoke to reporters on Sunday with the opening of the Milan Cortina Games days away.
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Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry addresses the media in Milan, Italy on Sunday, February 1, 2026. (Claudio Furlan/LaPresse via AP)
While trying to deflect, Coventry said it was “sad” the stories were taking attention away from the Olympics.
“I think anything that distracts from these Games is sad, right? But we’ve learned over the years … there’s always been something that’s taken the lead before the Games,” she said. “Whether it’s been Zika, COVID, there’s always been something.
“But what keeps my faith alive is that when that opening ceremony happens and those athletes start competing, suddenly the world remembers the magic and the spirit that the Games have and they suddenly remember what’s actually important and they’re inspired, and so we’re really looking forward to that.”
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Border Patrol agents detain a person near Roosevelt High School during dismissal time as federal immigration enforcement actions sparked protests in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on January 7, 2026. (Kerem Yucel/AFP via Getty Images)
Coventry faced questions about ICE when the federal agents were to be used to help with security for the US delegation – prompting protests in Italy.
“From all the information that we have, and I think that the US authorities, like the other authorities, have made all the necessary clarifications, so from our side it is not up to us to comment further on that part of the security. But we are really looking forward to the matches,” Coventry says of ICE.
On Saturday, a new batch of emails in the Epstein case showed correspondence between Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee chairman Casey Wasserman and Epstein’s ex-girlfriend Ghislane Maxwell. The exchange took place in 2003.
“We did not discuss it yesterday and I think Mr. Wasserman has presented his statement and we now have nothing further to add,” she said.
Coventry added that the focus has been on Milan Cortina.
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The Winter Olympics begin on Friday with the opening ceremony.
