A photo of an “Americana” pizza at a Winter Olympic Village in Italy has sparked online debate in recent days, with former NFL All-Pro Jason Kelce contributing to discussion about the pizza mecca’s views on Americans’ culinary preferences.
Why It Matters
The 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony was held on Friday, with some events occurring earlier in the week. Thousands of the world’s top athletes have joined in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo to compete in a series of athletic events over the coming weeks.
There are two main Olympic Villages in Italy this year, as some athletes will be competing on the mountain at Cortina d’Ampezzo, while others, like figure skaters, in Milan. There are also additional clusters of athletes for some sports in other parts of Italy.
What To Know
Dan Wolken, senior reporter at Yahoo News, posted a photo of a menu at the Olympics that features an “Americana” pizza as one topped with round meat that looks like sliced hot dogs and french fries. He captioned the post, “I have arrived in Italy for the Olympics and this is what they think of us.”
More than 4.2 million people have seen the post, with chiming in. Kelce, the longtime center for the Philadelphia Eagles and older brother to Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce, reshared the post, adding the caption, “How f****** dare they!! Also, just curious, do they have ranch or do I need to bring my own?”
Instagram account Jomboy Media, which produces sports content for more than 1 million followers, reshared Wolken’s post and added the caption: “Italy is throwing fries and hot dogs on the pizza in honor of us.” Another account, Turks Pizza Party, shared it with the caption, “us.”
Some users are upset by the characterization from Italy, the home country of Naples—widely hailed as the world’s pizza capital—while others have laughed and thrown out what sauces they would pair with it.
What Is an Olympic Village?
An Olympic Village is a residential complex where athletes and team officials stay during the Games. In addition to housing, it typically includes a large dining hall, training and recovery facilities, medical services and common areas. The village is designed to keep athletes close to their venues, provide security and privacy, and create a shared experience among competitors from around the world.
What Happens Next
The Winter Olympic Games will run through February 22.
