Incident involving Snoop Dogg and Marianne Timmer at Winter Olympics
An altercation reportedly occurred at the Winter Olympics in Milan on Wednesday when security personnel accompanying American rapper Snoop Dogg allegedly shoved Dutch speed skating icon Marianne Timmer aside, reports BritPanorama.
The incident took place as the 54-year-old hip-hop star was being escorted from Milano Speed Skating Stadium following the 1,000m competition. Timmer, a celebrated figure in Dutch skating, had been positioned near a wall awaiting interviews with athletes when the confrontation unfolded.
The rapper is currently serving as an honorary coach for the United States team at the Games, a role intended to lift spirits and generate positive energy for American competitors. Timmer recounted the encounter to Dutch outlet Sportnieuws, describing how a guard pressed her further against the wall despite the corridor being approximately four metres wide.
“I said, ‘Just act normal’,” she told the publication. “But then the guy came back and I said, ‘What? Do I have to go through that wall or something?'” The former Olympic champion said the security guard then became aggressive towards her, prompting a sharp response. “I’m not here waiting for Snoop Dogg, I’m waiting for Jennings de Boo. We want to see Joep (Wennermars), we want to talk to Kjeld (Nuis) for a moment,” she recalled telling him.
Timmer suggested the behaviour she experienced was not an isolated occurrence, claiming the security team had established a pattern of confrontational conduct during the Games. She described witnessing another troubling incident involving a fellow Dutch national in the venue, adding, “We saw a Dutchman being roughly escorted away from the stands by some very large security guards.”
The skating legend added with dark humour that she could easily imagine herself suffering a similar fate. “I could just picture myself being grabbed by the neck and thrown out. That would have been a great story,” she remarked.
Snoop Dogg’s appointment as honorary coach was announced by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee in December, with the organisation describing it as a volunteer position focused on celebrating American athletes away from competition. Dubbed “Coach Snoop”, the entertainer has thrown himself into the role enthusiastically, carrying the Olympic flame through Gallarate last week and attending numerous events including curling, downhill skiing and speed skating.
The rapper continues to work simultaneously as a broadcaster for NBC, reprising his popular commentary role from the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics. Reports suggest his NBC earnings at the previous Games reached approximately £393,000 daily.
This incident underscores the complexities of balancing high-profile celebrity involvement with the unique atmosphere of the Olympic Games and raises questions about security protocols in such events.
