U.S. officials assigned to protect Americans attending next month’s Winter Olympics are expanding planning around the threat posed by unmanned aircraft, from unpermitted aerial filming over venues to the more severe risk of explosive payloads. The concern has grown as military conflicts have underscored the lethality of drone systems, and U.S. authorities have increased investment in counter-drone technology.
Officials said drones have already interrupted European airspace in recent months, and that inexpensive unmanned aircraft have emerged as a persistent challenge for major sporting events. Tim Ayers, Director of the U.S. State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), said in an interview: "Our authorities are constantly on the lookout." He described drones as "a massive issue" that both host countries and visiting security teams now treat as an ongoing threat category.
Monitoring in alpine venues
Italian police and their military counterparts are preparing restrictions and deploying monitoring systems around outdoor mountain venues for the Milano Cortina Games, where officials say drones are typically harder to control and easier to conceal. Security planners acknowledge that authorised drone operations - for instance, television broadcasts - can be permitted through a credentialing process, but they expect spectators to attempt flights regardless of the rules.
To bolster coordination, U.S. officials recently organised a high-level drone symposium in Italy, bringing American specialists to brief Italian counterparts and set up direct communication channels designed to speed problem-solving during the Games. Ayers stressed the supporting role of U.S. teams: "The Italians have primacy, it’s their country," he said. "We’re there as a backstop to share information and expertise as needed."
Lessons from prior Games and operational response
Security planners pointed to the Paris Olympics as a recent case study. While authorities prepared for the possibility that drones could be used to deliver harmful devices, the more frequent incidents involved spectators attempting to capture unauthorised footage or conducting activity that could be interpreted as surveillance. In those situations, host-nation forces concentrated on identifying and apprehending operators, enforcing no-drone zones and employing counter-unmanned aircraft systems to force drones down, assume control of them or disrupt their electronic links.
Interagency coordination and on-the-ground embedding
The American contribution to Games security is coordinated by the DSS through an interagency body that arranges support for major events overseas, officials said. The group draws personnel and expertise from the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy and the U.S. intelligence community, among others.
U.S. officials noted that planning for an Olympics typically begins years ahead of the event, with agents embedded locally. Becky McKnight, a DSS special agent based in Milan for nearly two years, said her daily responsibilities have emphasised building relationships with Italian law enforcement and venue security managers. Her routine has included repeated visits to Olympic clusters across northern Italy to map terrain, identify travel choke points and understand command structures. "Some of these venues, when we first went out there two years ago, most of them hadn’t been built," she said.
Cyber risks, protests and tourist-targeted crime
Beyond drone activity, officials identified cyber incidents as a central concern. They outlined scenarios in which payment systems or ticketing access could be disrupted, potentially affecting operations and visitor experience. Authorities also anticipate both issue-driven demonstrations and routine anti-Olympics activism, as well as opportunistic crime that could target tourists drawn to the Games.
Organisers have said they are taking every precaution to deliver a safe experience for athletes and spectators. For U.S. citizens travelling to Italy, officials urged enrollment in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive safety messages about significant disturbances such as protests or transport disruptions. Travellers were also advised to avoid wearing flashy jewelry, remain aware of their surroundings and plan for delays. "Patience is going to be required," Ayers said.
Officials framed the U.S. role as one of technical and informational support to the host nation, acknowledging that Italian authorities retain the lead responsibility for security on their territory while accepting shared intelligence and methods to mitigate aerial, digital and crowd-related risks during the Games.