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U.S. Olympic officials changed the name of the U.S. athletes’ hospitality space from “Ice House” to “Winter House” amid protests in Italy over U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) involvement in security measures at the Games and growing outrage over U.S. operations.
The setting will be a space for U.S. Olympic figure skaters, speed skaters and ice hockey players and their families to gather for meet-and-greets, medal celebrations, viewing parties and other events, according to Reuters. The location will appear during NBC’s coverage of the Winter Games.
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A general view of the Team USA welcome experience at the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Games on February 2, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Joe Scarnici/Getty Images)
“Our hospitality concept was designed to be a private, distraction-free space where athletes, their families and friends can come together to celebrate the unique experience of the Winter Games,” US Figure Skating, USA Hockey and US Speedskating said in a joint statement.
“This name captures that vision and connects to the season and the event.”
USA Today first reported on the name change.
ICE agents will play a security role for US officials during the Winter Games. U.S. Embassy officials told The Associated Press last week that ICE agents would support diplomatic security details and would not execute any immigration enforcement operations.
MILAN 2026 CORTINA OLYMPIC GAMES: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS YEAR’S WINTER GAMES
Ilia Malinin of Team USA trains on day minus four of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at the Milano Ice Skating Arena on February 2, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
“Obviously, ICE does not conduct immigration enforcement operations in foreign countries,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.
“At the Olympic Games, ICE Homeland Security Investigations is supporting the US State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service and the host country to examine and mitigate risks from transnational criminal organizations. All security operations remain under Italian authority.”
Meanwhile, protests broke out in Italy over ICE’s involvement.
“No, thank you, from Minnesota to the world, alongside anyone who fights for human rights,” one banner read, according to The Associated Press. Another said: “Only ice in Spritz.”
Italian lawmaker Riccardo Magi, center, displays a sign demanding that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents not be allowed into the Milan Cortina Olympics during a protest organized by the center-left +Europe party in front of the U.S. embassy in Rome, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
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Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala said ICE would not be welcome in the city and cited images of masked officers in Minneapolis. ICE operations have come under fire since the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
