The opening ceremony of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Games on Friday saw Vice President J.D. Vance met with boos and jeers from the crowd of 65,000 attendees, a reaction that surprised some, including former President Donald Trump. The event, a traditionally unifying, non-political occasion, also highlighted the broader economic potential of the sports industry, projected to reach $8.8 trillion by 2050, according to the World Economic Forum.
The incident involving Vance occurred as his image appeared on the stadium's big screen during the kickoff of the games. While Trump dismissed the reaction, stating to reporters on Air Force One, "That's surprising because people like him... He doesn't get booed in this country," recent polls suggest a broader issue in Europe.
The Milan Cortina games are part of a rare convergence of mega sporting events in 2026, including the FIFA World Cup and the Youth Olympic Games, which are expected to draw billions of viewers. The sports economy, currently valued at $2.3 trillion, is poised for significant growth, but this progress depends on healthy populations, stable environments, and resilient communities, according to the World Economic Forum.
The opening ceremony itself, as noted by some, offered a positive experience. Unlike previous Olympic ceremonies that faced challenges such as extreme temperatures, fanless events due to COVID-19, or weather disruptions, the Milan event seemed to provide a good atmosphere.
In other news, former President Donald Trump faced criticism after sharing a video on his Truth Social account depicting former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama as apes. The video, which was later deleted, included an AI-generated clip set to the song "The Lions Sleep Tonight" and promoted conspiracy theories about voting fraud. This depiction echoed a centuries-old racist trope.
Meanwhile, the Department of Justice released over 3 million files related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. The rollout of these files has been described as chaotic, with many documents heavily redacted and some potentially exposing victims' personal information. Officials have indicated that this is the full set of materials to be made public and that additional criminal charges are unlikely.
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