ALBAWABA - Massive protests recently erupted in Milan against the ongoing 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics over its possible impact on Italy's economy and environment, and Israel's participation in the sports event.
Videos flooding social media captured the Israeli Olympic team getting booed on stage during the event's opening ceremony due to the country's war in Gaza, which left over 72,000 Palestinians dead and more than 171,000 injured since October 7, 2023. Several internet users criticized the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics for inviting Israel but not Russia, calling it "hypocritical."
According to Euronews, US Vice President JD Vance, who was attending the opening ceremony, also got booed after the camera panned at him.
Video: Israel booed on stage at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics
A social media user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote, "Russia isn’t allowed, but baby killers are. The Olympics administration needs to be investigated immediately."
The State of Palestine's official X account wrote, "…But Israel is still competing?" following a screenshot of a headline that read, "Over 800 athletes killed in Gaza amid Israeli genocide, starvation."
Other videos showed massive riots taking place in Milan against the Olympics as human rights activists called for Israel be excluded from the event.
Protestors were captured clashing with local police while throwing stones and lighting fireworks at them. The police responded with tear gas and baton charges. However, Euronews reported that most of the protests were peaceful.
