The Team USA hospitality space at the Milan Cortina Games originally nicknamed the “Ice House” has been rebranded the “Winter House” as the Olympic Opening Ceremony approaches. Three U.S. winter-sports governing bodies which are Figure Skating, Hockey, and Speedskating confirmed the change, citing “widespread protests in both Italy and the US” over U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the move follows recent demonstrations in Minneapolis after ICE agents fatally shot two American citizens: Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis last month. According to Olympic officials, the Winter House is intended as an athlete-first space, a private lounge for skaters, hockey players and their families where teams can relax, hold watch parties, medal celebrations and other gatherings during the Games.
Though closed to the general public, NBC will feature the Winter House in its Olympic coverage, giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at Team USA’s in-camp activities. In September the USOPC had described the space as a boutique hotel venue “free of distractions” where athletes and families could enjoy “the unique experience of the Winter Games”.
In the past few weeks, the anti-ICE movement erupted into street protests and politics on both sides of the Atlantic. In Minneapolis, where two U.S. citizens were killed by ICE officers last month, thousands of protesters marched and staged a walkout to demand the withdrawal of ICE from local law enforcement. The case involving a nurse named Renee Good and another involving a teacher named Alex Pretti reignited criticism of the Trump administration’s tough immigration policies and the federal government’s decision to send federal officers to the Twin Cities. As part of a “national immigration crackdown,” the White House has dispatched some 3,000 federal officers to Minneapolis, sparking comparisons to the size of the city’s own police force. In this kind of environment, even a name such as “Ice House” no longer seemed to fit.
In Italy, the news of ICE agents’ involvement in U.S. security teams during the Milan Games sparked a strong reaction from local authorities and activists. Hundreds of protesters gathered in central Milan and Rome, holding signs that read “ICE only in Spritz” and “No thanks, from Minnesota to the world, we stand with human rights.” The mayor of Milan, Giuseppe Sala, said that ICE agents were “not welcome” in Milan, as they are “a militia that kills,” in an interview with Italian radio.
In the face of this reaction, the sport’s governing bodies of Team USA took a proactive step. In a joint statement on Feb. 2, U.S. Figure Skating, USA Hockey, and U.S. Speedskating stated that their hospitality house was “designed to be a private space free of distractions where athletes, their families, and friends can come together to celebrate the unique experience of the Winter Games”. They stated that “this new name captures that vision” and does not involve unnecessary controversy. “Winter House” is intended to capture the essence of winter without the political overtones of “ICE”.
Athletes welcomed the change. American figure skater Amber Glenn, a contender at the Games, told reporters that renaming the venue was “wise.” As she explained on the ice in Milan, “It’s unfortunate that the term ‘ICE’ isn’t something we can embrace because of what’s happening and the implications of what some individuals are doing.” Glenn said the news from home has been “upsetting” and that she understood the decision: “I think it’s wise that we change something as minute as a name if it is able to make anyone feel more comfortable.” In practice the renaming is a small gesture, but it signals solidarity with those affected by ICE’s recent actions.
