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Athletes Experience Focus
Official Highlights
MILAN - Comments from
IOC Spokesperson Mark ADAMS (GBR),
IOC Director of the Athletes' Department Kaveh MEHRABI (IRI),
ice hockey player Clara ROZIER (FRA),
figure skater Sara CONTI (ITA)
Games Operations Communications Director Luca CASASSA (ITA) at the Main Press Centre on Tuesday.
Mark ADAMS - IOC Spokesperson
On whether US President Donald TRUMP will visit Milano Cortina 2026 if the USA men's ice hockey team makes the final:
"You wouldn't expect me to comment on the movements of Heads of States. If you have a question on that, you will have to pose it to the White House."
On comments made by Swiss commentator Stefan RENNA concerning Israeli bobsledder Adam EDELMAN (ISR):
"I would remind everyone (involved) in the Olympic Games, however tangentially, of the Olympic values and the (Olympic) Charter, and us trying to bring people together despite everything that is happening in the world. In terms of specific comments by a specific broadcaster, you'll have to direct your comments to that broadcaster."
On calls from Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice HAHN for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Summer Games chair Casey WASSERMAN to resign after being named in the Jeffrey EPSTEIN files:
"This is still a matter for the board of Los Angeles 2028 at this stage. An independent law firm looked into it, and it is up to the board to draw their own conclusions."
On digital figures at the Games:
"Chinese digital figures, linked to their (Chinese) New Year campaign, saw 750 million engagements, which is close to their level when they hosted the Games (in Beijing) four years ago."
Kaveh MEHRABI - IOC Director of the Athletes' Department
On Soraya AGHAEI (IRI), who competed at Tokyo 2020 in badminton, being elected as an IOC Member:
"The beautiful thing about the Olympic movement is we are truly global. It makes us different from any other movement. I am a proud Iranian myself. I proudly represented Iran at the Olympic Games (in badminton at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Summer Games).
"In the case of Soraya, she has had an incredible career and will be helping us support athletes across the globe."
On social media numbers from athletes at the Games, and allowing them more freedom to film:
"Athletes have generated over 1.3 billion social engagements. That's about half a million per athlete, and we are super proud they want to show their own experience.
"(Speed skater) Jutta LEERDAM (NED) has alone generated over 100m engagements on social media. The most appealing content has been behind the scenes. We changed the guidelines since Paris (2024 Olympic Games), allowing athletes to show their experience first hand."
On combatting abuse on social media:
"The vast majority of engagement has been really supportive and positive. Some athletes who may not be as (well) known outside their sports can really increase their platform and social media reach (at these Games).
"We are working very hard with all the platforms to make sure there isn't abuse. We have used an AI (Artificial Intelligence) platform since Paris (in 2024) to help take down some posts. And even if the platform can't take a post down, our safeguarding teams always reach out to the NOCs (National Olympic Committees) and we make sure the athletes get support from the IOC."
Clara ROZIER (FRA) - ice hockey player
On the Olympic Village:
"It has been an amazing experience, it is my first time (at an Olympic Games). It has been special for me to be in the Village, to meet the other athletes and be able to share things with other people. I have a small team, but at the Olympics I feel we have a big team with Team France. The atmosphere at the Village is good. There is a lot of chill space and the chance to watch other competitions."
On the Mind Zone area in the Olympic Village designed to support athletes' wellbeing:
"I was there yesterday. I sent some postcards to my family (from it). It was a good place to chill and relax. There are different things to do there in calm and peace. And I know some of my teammates went there and were able to relax as well."
Sara CONTI (ITA) - figure skater
On her bronze medal in the team event:
"I haven't had a lot of opportunities to compete in Italy, so to be able to share this with my family and friends was special. The public gave us energy when we were starting to feel tired. The home crowd is what helped us fully enjoy the experience of winning a medal."
On the Olympic Village:
"I didn't know what to expect from the Olympic Village. I felt like a child in a playground for the first few days. You don't realise all the things you can do there until you arrive. There are games and you can relax. The Village is something unlike at any other competition, even at the highest level."
Luca CASASSA - Games Operations Communications Director
On ticket sales on Monday:
"Yesterday, 55,000 tickets were sold. Italy celebrated a bronze in the big air freestyle (Flora TABANELLI). Another highlight came at the speed skating arena (on Saturday) when the American (Jordan STOLZ) set a new (Olympic) record for 500m."
On fans from Greenland and Russia reportedly bringing flags into venues:
"We have got very clear rules, and we share them with the IOC. They are written on the tickets and we carry out scrupulous checks. This is done inside the venues. A lot of attention is given if something untoward happens and we take remedial measures. We do a lot of awareness training for the staff at the venues."
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