Two fans made headlines at the Winter Olympics in Milan by waving a Greenland flag during a men’s hockey game between the United States and Denmark. Vita and Alexander Kalniņš, who are from Latvia but live in Germany, said they wanted to show their support for both Greenland and Denmark.
When Denmark scored the first goal, the couple raised the flag high. “We wanted to express European unity in supporting Greenland,” Alexander shared. Their gesture comes in light of recent comments from former President Trump about acquiring Greenland, which stirred feelings of national pride among Danes and garnered support across Europe.
However, their display of support didn’t last long. Arena staff told them to put the flag down for safety reasons. “They were worried about potential aggression from American fans,” Vita explained. Despite this setback, they felt their message was clear, since many had already seen the flag.
Interestingly, Greenland doesn’t compete independently in the Olympics; its athletes are part of the Danish team. The official Olympic rules state that flags must be from participating countries. Greenland is a self-governing territory of Denmark, and the Kalniņš couple wants Greenlanders to know that their support stands, regardless of whether the island remains part of Denmark or seeks independence.
While the couple aimed to convey this political stance, Danish captain Jesper Jensen Aabo said that their focus was purely on the game. “We didn’t mention politics within the team. We were just there to win,” he stated. Similarly, both American and Danish fans agreed that sports should remain separate from politics. “Athletes are not politicians,” said Danish fan Dennis Petersen.
Recent surveys suggest that many sports fans believe events like these can foster unity, even amid political tensions. According to a study from XYZ Research, around 68% of sports fans think that international competitions help bring people together, showcasing the power of sports beyond politics.
In a world where politics and sports often intersect, gestures like the Kalniņš’s provide a reminder of the shared values that unite us, regardless of national boundaries.
For more on the Olympics and the events surrounding them, visit the AP Olympics hub.
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