The Olympics Are a Show Of Global Harmony. The World is Anything But.

Nytimes reports that the Winter Games opening in Italy come during one of the greatest periods of geopolitical turmoil since World War II, making the Olympic ideal of peaceful, rule-bound competition feel discordant with fraying diplomatic norms. The article notes recent U.S.

actions — including a military intervention ordered against Venezuela, threats regarding Greenland and warnings of economic measures — and broader strains such as cuts to U.N. contributions that have amplified fears about multilateral cooperation. It describes how Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, has had limited influence on the U.S.

president and publicly rebuked him, even as U.S. officials are scheduled to attend the opening ceremonies. The International Olympic Committee is portrayed as seeking political neutrality, but the piece underscores that sports and politics intersect: Russia and Belarus are competing only as neutral athletes, the I.O.C.

Italy