US Olympics "ICE House" Hospitality Space Renamed for Obvious Reasons
By Reuters | 02 Feb, 2026

The new name for the hospitality space for US athletes will be Winter House, after Minneapolis incidents gave "ice" a bad association.

Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics - Previews - Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy - January 25, 2026 General view of the Olympic rings and the Paralympics Agitos logo covered in snow ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics REUTERS/Claudia Greco

U.S. Olympic officials have changed the name of an athlete hospitality space at the Milano Cortina Games from "Ice House" to "Winter House," a move that comes following protests in Minneapolis over the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.

The venue has been billed by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) as an "athlete-first space" where U.S. figure skaters, hockey players, speedskaters and their families can gather in what is normally a boutique-style hotel in the heart of Milan.

"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," U.S. Figure Skating, USA Hockey and US Speedskating said in a joint statement. 

"This name captures that vision and connects to the season and the event."

Winter House will host a variety of activities, including meet-and-greets with Olympic champions and legends, medal celebrations, watch parties and sponsored events, according to the USOPC. While not open to the public, NBC will showcase the venue during its coverage. 

Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets in Minneapolis and students across the U.S. staged walkouts on Friday to demand the withdrawal of federal immigration agents from Minnesota following the shootings. 

Under a national immigration crackdown, President Donald Trump has sent 3,000 federal officers to the Minneapolis area who are patrolling the streets in tactical gear, a force five times the size of the Minneapolis Police Department.

"I think it's wise," U.S. figure skater Amber Glenn told reporters after practice on Monday in Milan. 

"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. 

"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."

(Reporting by Rory Carroll and Agnieszka Flak , editing by Ed Osmond)