"I think anything that is distracting from these Games is sad, right? But we've learned over the many years ... there's always been something that has taken the lead, leading up to the Games," Coventry said. "Whether it has been Zika, COVID, there has always been something."
"But what is keeping my faith alive is that when that opening ceremony happens and those athletes start competing, suddenly the world remembers the magic and the spirit that the games have and they get to suddenly remember what's actually important and they get to be inspired and so we're really looking forward to that."
"From all the information that we have and I believe that the US authorities, as the other authorities, have made all the clarifications needed, so from our side that's not for us to further comment on that part of the security. But we're rea"
International Olympic Committee officials, including President Kirsty Coventry, faced questions about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deployment and newly released Jeffrey Epstein-related files at a Milan press conference. Coventry said the IOC viewed commenting on the issues as outside its remit but called it "sad" that such stories were diverting attention from the Games. Coventry referenced past distractions such as Zika and COVID and expressed confidence that the opening ceremony and athlete performances would restore focus on the Olympic spirit. Hundreds of demonstrators protested ICE deployment in Milan, and released government files included emails linking Los Angeles Olympic organizers to Ghislaine Maxwell.
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