Sport|Winter OlympicsItaly’s Winter Olympics security plan keeps ICE in advisory roleItaly to control Olympic security operations with 6,000 officers, drones and cyberunit, but ICE will be present.
## Security Measures for the Winter Olympics in Italy
Security Measures for the Winter Olympics in Italy
Italy has announced a comprehensive security plan for the upcoming Winter Olympics, ensuring that all operations will remain under its command. This follows the announcement that United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) staff will assist the US delegation.
The Winter Olympics, scheduled from February 6 to February 22, will be hosted across two main hubs, Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, with additional events in other northern regions. Approximately 3,500 athletes are expected to participate, with an estimated two million visitors attending, including 60,000 for the opening ceremony at Milan's San Siro stadium.
The US delegation will be led by Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi highlighted the security strategy, which includes field deployments, intelligence-led prevention, and for the first time, a 24-hour cybersecurity control room.
About 6,000 law enforcement officers will be deployed to secure the Olympic sites, supported by no-fly zones and restricted-access areas. Participating nations are expected to bring their own security personnel. The US Department of State confirmed that several federal agencies, including ICE, will assist in protecting the American delegation, as they have in previous Olympics.
Italy has announced a comprehensive security plan for the upcoming Winter Olympics, ensuring that all operations will remain under its command.
ICE staff will operate only within US diplomatic offices, such as the Milan consulate, and not in public areas. The Ministry of Interior affirmed that all security operations in Italy remain solely under Italian jurisdiction.
ICE will participate via its Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) division, providing advisory and intelligence support without engaging in patrolling or enforcement activities. HSI investigators will focus on transnational criminal threats, particularly cybercrimes and national security risks.
The deployment plan includes over 3,000 regular police officers, around 2,000 Carabinieri military police, and more than 800 Guardia di Finanza tax police, with the largest contingent in Milan. Additional measures involve drone surveillance and robotic inspection systems for hazardous or inaccessible areas. A cybersecurity command center in Milan will monitor Olympic networks and strategic transport infrastructure.
Several "red zones" will be activated from February 6 to 22, restricting access to individuals with public-order convictions to prevent potential disturbances.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.