Fans at Winter Olympics Reject Nationalism, Embrace Shared Humanity

Despite fierce competition between nations, spectators celebrate excellence and camaraderie across borders.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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At the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, the author observed that fans from different countries enthusiastically cheered for their national teams while also recognizing the right of others to do the same. This spirit of shared global experiences defied the rising nationalist sentiment seen in many countries, with the crowd bonding over moments of athletic triumph and perseverance regardless of nationality.

Why it matters

The author argues that the inclusive, patriotic-but-not-nationalist atmosphere at the Olympics stands in contrast to the divisive rhetoric and policies of some political leaders. It suggests that people can separate their pride in their country from exclusionary, 'us vs. them' nationalist ideologies.

The details

The author describes witnessing displays of international cooperation, such as helping a German fan raise a banner for her son competing in pairs figure skating. Despite fierce competition between nations, the crowd celebrated excellence and perseverance from athletes of all countries, cheering loudly even for those who finished last. The author notes that this shared global experience defies the nationalist retrenchment and disdain for international alliances seen in some political leaders' policies.

  • The 2026 Winter Olympics took place in Milan, Italy.
  • The author spent a week at the Games observing fan behavior.

The players

David Litt

A former speechwriter for President Barack Obama and the author of several books, including "It's Only Drowning: A True Story of Learning to Surf and the Search for Common Ground".

JD Vance

A right-wing political figure who was booed loudly during the opening ceremony in Milan.

Mark Carney

The Prime Minister of Canada, who warned that "the old geopolitical order 'is not coming back'.'

Alysa Liu

An American figure skater who won the gold medal with a "powerful, mesmerizing, joyous, life-affirming" free skate performance.

Kimmy Repond

A Swiss figure skater who finished second to last but received loud cheers from the crowd as she got back up and resumed skating after falling twice.

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The takeaway

The inclusive, patriotic-but-not-nationalist atmosphere at the Olympics suggests that people can separate their pride in their country from exclusionary, 'us vs. them' nationalist ideologies. This defies the divisive rhetoric and policies of some political leaders, showing that citizens are often more united in their shared humanity than their governments.