ROME, Italy — The White House announced on Saturday that Vice President JD Vance will spearhead the official United States delegation to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, confirming his attendance at the highly anticipated opening ceremony. The delegation represents a significant diplomatic and celebratory presence for the American contingent at the global sporting event.
Vance will be accompanied by a distinguished group including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Second Lady Usha Vance, and U.S. Ambassador to Italy Tilman Fertitta. Enhancing the prestige of the delegation is a cohort of celebrated American Olympic gold medalists, adding a layer of athletic excellence to the diplomatic mission.
The 2026 Milan-Cortina Games are scheduled to commence on February 6th with an opening ceremony set to break new ground in Olympic history. The traditional Parade of Nations will transcend a single venue. While the primary spectacle will unfold before 60,000 spectators at Milan’s iconic San Siro stadium, athletes will simultaneously be presented in the mountain venues of Cortina d’Ampezzo, Predazzo, and Livigno. This innovative, multi-city format marks an unprecedented expansion of the ceremony’s reach.
Notably absent from the delegation roster is former U.S. President Donald Trump. The American athlete representation within the delegation boasts impressive credentials, featuring twin sisters Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson and Monique Lamoureux-Morando, key members of the gold medal-winning 2018 ice hockey team. They will be joined by decorated Olympians including figure skating champion Evan Lysacek and two-time short track speed skating gold medalist Apolo Ohno.