Latvian hockey fans raised a Greenland flag during the United States versus Denmark men’s hockey game Saturday at the Winter Olympics in Milan, describing their gesture as a symbol of European support for the Arctic island amid ongoing tensions over U.S. President Donald Trump’s rhetoric about taking control of Greenland.
Vita Kalniņa and her husband, Alexander Kalniņš—fans of the Latvian hockey team who live in Germany—held up a large red and white Greenland flag during warmups and again when Denmark scored the opening goal of the preliminary round game.
European Unity Message
“For us as Europeans it was important to show up (with) this symbol as a symbol of a European unity that we support Greenland,” Kalniņš told The Associated Press.
President Donald Trump’s recent statements about taking control of Greenland have stirred national pride in Denmark, which oversees the semiautonomous island, as well as support from across the European continent.
Security Concerns Lead to Flag Removal
Inside the hockey arena Saturday, Kalniņa and Kalniņš say venue staff told them they could not continue displaying the flag, even as American flags were waved throughout the stands.
“He said it was due to safety reasons, because there could be American aggressive people,” Kalniņš told AP.
The couple complied because they wanted to watch the game. However, they said they’d already made their point because anyone inside the arena—and those watching on television—had seen the flag.
“I think the message was sent,” Kalniņš said.
Unclear Flag Policy at Games
The Greenland flag’s status at the Games is unclear because Greenland doesn’t participate with its own team.
Greenlandic athletes, such as biathlete siblings Ukaleq and Sondre Slettemark, compete as part of Denmark’s team.
A guide on the official Olympic website for the opening ceremony specified that fans can only bring “flags of countries and territories participating in the Games.” Greenland is a self-governing territory of the kingdom of Denmark.
Support for Greenland’s Future
Kalniņa and Kalniņš said they want Greenlanders to know that Europe supports the Arctic island whether it stays part of Denmark or ultimately chooses full independence.
“It’s not OK that Trump and America are this aggressive and try to incorporate the island into their country,” Kalniņš said.
Athletes Keep Politics Off the Ice
Danish athletes playing in the so-called “Greenland Derby” said politics never made it to the ice.
As for the strained relationship between the U.S. and Denmark, “we didn’t even mention it” within the team, captain Jesper Jensen Aabo said. “We just wanted to win a hockey game against a world-class team. We didn’t need extra fire to fire us up. We were ready for the game even though there’s stuff going around in the real world, so that’s nothing that affected us at all.”
The captain said the players did not notice the Greenland flag in the stands.
“I didn’t see it, but that was nice,” Jensen Aabo said. “So hopefully they supported us.”
Fans Say Sports Transcends Politics
Other American and Danish fans who watched their teams face off said they believe sports transcends politics amid recent tensions between their governments over Greenland.
“It doesn’t matter whatever sport it is—it could be tennis, it could be bobsledding, it can be ice hockey, it could be football—it has nothing to do with politics,” Danish fan Dennis Petersen, his face covered in red and white paint to symbolize the kingdom’s flag, told the AP ahead of the game. “They are athletes, not politicians.”
American fan Rem de Rohan, sporting a stars and stripes jacket, agreed that politics should be left at the stadium gate.
“I think this is the time for people to kind of put that down and compete country versus country and enjoy,” he said. “We love rooting on every country that’s been here.”
Who Won?
The United States ultimately defeated Denmark 6-3.
Reporting from the Associated Press contributed to this article.
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