IOC Says No White House Contact, Will Meet Vice President In Milan

IOC President Kirsty Coventry said on Jan. 21, 2026, that she has had no formal communication with U.S. President Donald Trump’s White House and that she expects to meet U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance at the opening ceremony of the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics on Feb. 6, 2026, she told reporters in an online call from Lausanne.

The absence of formal contact matters because Los Angeles 2028 is due to host more than 10,000 athletes from over 200 national Olympic committees and the IOC says dozens of teams include officials or fans who currently face visa bans or travel restrictions, creating diplomatic challenges for the movement.

Kirsty Coventry said 'it is not within our remit to comment on sovereignty and political conversations' and added that the IOC 'will work extremely hard in order to protect the Olympic Games,' she told reporters in Lausanne.

Coventry was elected IOC president 10 months ago and said she and IOC members have 'seen the formal announcement' of the U.S. delegation, which the White House named as including Second Lady Usha Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Coventry said.

Olympic Games executive director Christophe Dubi acknowledged on Jan. 21, 2026, that 'work needs to be done' on Cortina's sliding track and that concourse and temporary works 'will be ready in a matter of days,' and Los Angeles organizers are due in Milan in two weeks to update IOC members, IOC statements show.