The importance of the Winter Olympics in a conflict-ridden world

With more than 100 years of history - the first edition was held in 1924 in the French city of Chamonix - the winter Olympics have always been characterized as a sporting event where snow and ice mix with power and geopolitics to provide a unique spectacle, and the last edition was no exception.

Right from the opening ceremony, this Olympic event made headlines. Sitting next to Italian President Sergio Mattarella, the Vice President of the United States and his wife received a wave of boos when they were focused by the camera during the parade of the American delegation at San Ciro Stadium.

Far from supporting the official representative of the United States government, several American athletes voiced their opposition to the policies carried out by the new Trump Administration, particularly regarding immigration and minority rights.

These athletes were severely criticized by Trump supporters, who consider themselves nationalists but criticize those who represent him at the highest sports level.

The presence of political issues in sporting events is not new. Since the first editions of the Olympic Games were held in the early 20th century, sport and politics have intertwined to turn sports competition into a power struggle between nations to measure their strength and sports development.

Among the sports that make up the program of the winter Olympic Games, Biathlon stands out. The history of this sport, which consists of alternating skiing and shooting, dates back to the times when the Norwegian patrol used it as military training. Already during the first edition of the winter Olympics, veterans from countries that participated in World War I were part of the first Olympic Biathlon teams in history.

This example demonstrates the fundamental role that the Olympic Games - both winter and summer - have played in constructing narratives of soft power for the participating countries. After all, who deserves the gold, silver, and bronze medals often ceases to be exclusively a sporting merit and becomes a political message.