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Olympics Cave-In, Ice House Becomes Winter House After Protests Over ICE Agents
MADISON, Wis., Feb. 3, 2026 /Christian Newswire/ — After the Milan, Italy protests over ICE agents at the upcoming Olympics, USA Figure Skating, USA Hockey and USA Speedskating decided to change the name of The Ice House to The Winter House.
The Winter House will be the USA Olympic hospitality center at the Winter Olympics, hosting athletes and sponsors. Team USA is sending 232 athletes.
Protestors have came out against the deployment of ICE agents at the Olympics that start on February 6. Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala says “(ICE is) a militia that kills. It’s clear that they are not welcome in Milan.”
In the past, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and domestic law enforcement agencies have provided security support at major international events, including the Olympics. ICE is directed by DHS.
4 WINDS USA President Steve McConkey ministers to Olympic athletes and stands up for Christian athletes. “The Olympic Committee has leaned left for many years,” states McConkey. “The ICE agents at the Olympics are professional officers who will provide much needed protection. The USA Olympic Committee should not change the name of Ice House to Winter House. By doing so, they think the public is stupid. Will they rename the ice at events ‘winter’? Sane people know that the Ice House is not related to ICE agents.”
As he ministers to Olympic athletes, Steve stands up worldwide for Christian athletes. For example, he fights against atheists trying to stop Christian activity in sports and opposes those attacking Christian athletes. In 2003, Steve was the only person publicly fighting against the International Olympic Committee’s transgender policies.
Steve McConkey is the President of 4 WINDS USA, a worldwide sports ministry, mostly in track and field (4WindsUSA.com). Starting in 1981, he has worked through eleven Olympic cycles. Steve shares the gospel, encourages Christians, stands up for Olympic athletes, and gives training advice. He was a USA National Track & Field Club Coach from 1982 through 1992. Steve graduated with honors from Western Kentucky University (Master of Public Health), Minnesota State University (BS-Community Health), and Webster High School (WI). Ministry centers have been in Eugene (OR), Dallas-Fort Worth (TX), Minneapolis-St. Paul (MN), and Madison (WI). Steve was born in Des Moines (IA) and moved to NW Wisconsin after the sixth grade. In recent years, he has had over 400 worldwide radio, article, and TV interviews. Steve is a specialist in Christian apologetics.