FootyChatter.com

Olympics 2026 Winter Olympics U. S. figure skater Amber Glenn said it's "wise that we change something as minute as a name if it is able to make anyone feel more comfortable. " Matthew Stockman / Getty Images A long-planned Olympic hospitality space in Milan for American athletes and their loved ones is being rebranded from Ice House to Winter House, officials from U. S. Figure skating, USA Hockey and US Speedskating confirmed to The Athletic on Tuesday. The three Olympic bodies unveiled plans for the state-of-the-art space in September. The decision to rename it, which was first reported by USA Today, comes after widespread protests in both the United States and Milan over the presence and conduct of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. The Department of Homeland Security has confirmed that ICE will be present for the Winter Olympics to bolster security, despite pushback from the host country. Advertisement “Our hospitality concept 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, ” officials from the three U. S. sports bodies said in a statement. “This name captures that vision and connects to the season and the event. ” Amber Glenn, American figure skater and medal hopeful, told reporters after practice in Milan on Monday that renaming the hospitality space was wise. “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, ” she told reporters. “Unfortunately, in my own country, it is very upsetting and very distressing to see. And I can’t imagine how people who have been impacted by that directly feel. So I think it’s wise that we change something as minute as a name if it is able to make anyone feel more comfortable. ” The prospect of ICE having any kind of role at the Olympics has prompted outcry in Italy, with local officials seeking to clarify the roles of American agents and the U. S. Department of Homeland Security specifying that ICE would not attempt to conduct enforcement operations. ICE is split into two sectors: Enforcement and Removal Operations, which enforces immigration laws, and Homeland Security Investigations, which helps secure large sporting events such as the Olympics. HSI agents are on hand at the Games and U. S. officials say they will not have an active role in securing the Games. The newly-named Winter House will host meet-and-greets with Olympic champions across the three sports, medal celebrations, watch parties and sponsored events. While it’s not open to the public, NBC will showcase the venue during coverage, offering fans a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the energy and celebration, according to the September release. The Athletic has reached out to the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and Team USA for further comment. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle Brittany Ghiroli is a senior writer for The Athletic covering MLB. She spent two years on the Washington Nationals beat for The Athletic and, before that, a decade with MLB. com, including nine years on the Orioles beat and brief stints in Tampa Bay (’08) and New York (’09). She was Baltimore Magazine’s “Best Reporter” in 2014 and D. C. Sportswriter of the Year in 2019. She’s a proud Michigan State graduate. Follow Brittany on Twitter @Britt_Ghiroli