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U.S. Vice President JD Vance will head the American delegation to the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, the White House announced Saturday. The delegation will represent the United States at the opening ceremony of the Milan Cortina Games on February 6.
According to the White House statement, Vance will be accompanied by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his wife, Second Lady Usha Vance. U.S. Ambassador Tilman Fertitta will also join the delegation, along with several Olympic gold medalists. President Donald Trump was notably absent from the list of delegation members.
The opening ceremony of the Milan Cortina Games will mark a historic first in Olympic history. While the traditional Parade of Nations will take place in Milan’s San Siro stadium before 60,000 spectators, athletes and national flagbearers will also appear simultaneously in three mountain venues: Cortina, Predazzo, and Livigno. This unprecedented multi-location format represents a significant departure from previous Olympic ceremonies.
Among the accomplished athletes joining the U.S. delegation are twin sisters Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson and Monique Lamoureux-Morando, who were key members of the women’s ice hockey team that captured gold at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Their dramatic victory over Canada ended a 20-year gold medal drought for the U.S. women’s hockey team.
Figure skater Evan Lysacek, who won gold at the 2010 Vancouver Games, will also be part of the delegation. Lysacek was the first American man to win Olympic figure skating gold since Brian Boitano in 1988. The delegation will also include Apolo Ohno, one of the most decorated American Winter Olympians of all time, who won gold medals in short track speed skating at both the 2002 Salt Lake City and 2006 Turin Games.
The 2026 Winter Olympics will mark Italy’s return as a host nation for the Games after twenty years. The country previously hosted the Winter Olympics in Turin in 2006 and in Cortina in 1956. The Milan Cortina Games will be spread across a large geographical area of northern Italy, with events taking place in venues throughout the Lombardy and Veneto regions.
This will be Vice President Vance’s first major international sporting event as head of a U.S. delegation since taking office. The role of leading Olympic delegations has traditionally been an important diplomatic assignment for senior U.S. government officials. At the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, the United States staged a diplomatic boycott, sending athletes but no government representatives due to concerns over China’s human rights record.
The Olympic delegation announcement comes as the Trump-Vance administration continues to shape its international engagement strategy. The presence of Secretary of State Rubio underscores the diplomatic significance the administration places on maintaining strong relations with European allies.
The Milan Cortina Games are expected to feature approximately 2,900 athletes competing in 116 events across 15 disciplines. The Games will run from February 6 to February 22, 2026, with competition venues spread across northern Italy’s Alpine region.
Italian organizers have emphasized sustainability in their planning, with many venues being repurposed from existing facilities. The multi-city approach reflects a growing trend in Olympic hosting, aimed at distributing both the benefits and costs of staging the Games across multiple communities.
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9 Comments
The inclusion of Olympic gold medalists in the US delegation is a smart move. Their presence will lend credibility and excitement to the event. I’m curious to see if they play any active role in the ceremony or if they’re there more for symbolic purposes.
Interesting to see Vance and Rubio representing the US at the Winter Olympics opening ceremony. I wonder what the reasoning is behind Trump’s absence from the delegation. Curious to see how the multi-location format plays out for the ceremony.
The multi-location format for the opening ceremony is certainly an innovative approach. I’m curious to see how they coordinate the logistics and ensure a seamless and cohesive experience for the viewers. It could be a real game-changer for how we think about Olympic ceremonies.
While the absence of Trump from the US delegation is noteworthy, I’m more interested in seeing how Vance and Rubio represent the country on the global stage. Their backgrounds and leadership styles may offer a different perspective compared to Trump’s approach.
While the absence of Trump from the delegation is noteworthy, I’m more focused on how Vance and Rubio will represent the US. Their different backgrounds and leadership styles compared to Trump’s approach could lead to a refreshing and unique perspective on the global stage.
The absence of Trump from the US delegation is notable. I wonder if it’s a strategic decision or if there are any underlying tensions or disagreements. Regardless, it will be interesting to see how Vance and Rubio represent the country on the global stage.
The inclusion of Olympic gold medalists like the Lamoureux sisters is a great move. Their experience and achievements will add credibility and excitement to the US delegation. I’m curious to see if they’ll have any active roles during the ceremony or if they’re there more for symbolic purposes.
I’m intrigued by the unprecedented multi-venue format for the opening ceremony. It seems like an innovative approach to showcase the various host locations. I’m curious to see if it enhances the spectacle and global reach of the event.
The inclusion of accomplished Olympians like the Lamoureux sisters is a nice touch. Their experience and achievements will add credibility to the US delegation. Looking forward to seeing how the unique ceremony format unfolds.