^{Foto: International Olympique (CIO) / FURLONG, Christopher}

The Olympic flag-bearers for the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games opening ceremony have been announced. Ten internationally recognized figures, selected by the International Olympic Committee and Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026, are athletes and individuals whose personal and professional paths embody the principles of peace, unity and solidarity that inspire the Olympic movement.

The five interlaced Olympic rings, representing the unity of the five continents and the gathering of athletes from around the world on the Olympic stage, on a white background: the Olympic flag is a timeless symbol that still reminds us of the power of sport as a tool for dialogue and human progress.

Each edition of the Olympic Games aims to leave a legacy that goes beyond sport. The flag-bearers chosen for Milan Cortina 2026 represent this vision through life stories marked by civic engagement, resilience, inclusion and global responsibility, able to inspire audiences worldwide.

In the spirit of the split Winter Games, the Olympic flag will pass through two symbolic Games locations where the opening ceremony will be held: at Milan’s San Siro Olympic Stadium, accompanied by eight flag-bearers, and in Cortina, with two flag-bearers.

Flag-bearers in Milan

Tadatoshi Akiba (Japan) was mayor of Hiroshima from 1999 to 2011. During his political career he stood out for global advocacy of nuclear disarmament. He is an active member of Mayors for Peace, an international organization dedicated to promoting peace.

Rebeca Andrade (Brazil) is the most decorated Olympic athlete in Brazilian history. After overcoming several serious injuries that repeatedly forced her to consider retiring, she became a powerful symbol of perseverance and resilience. A three-time Olympian (Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024), she is an Olympic champion in Tokyo 2020 (vault) and Paris 2024 (floor exercise), and winner of the 2025 Laureus Comeback of the Year award. She actively supports causes including women’s rights, sustainability and education. She has been an IOC ambassador and involved with the UN Women program “One Win Leads to Another Brazil.”

Maryam Bukar Hassan (Nigeria) was appointed a UN global advocate for peace in July 2025. An internationally recognized artist and poet, she is strongly committed to promoting gender equality, youth empowerment and building inclusive and lasting peace.

Nicolò Govoni (Italy) is a writer and human rights activist, nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020 for his work protecting refugee children. He is executive director and president of Still I Rise, an NGO that provides free, quality education to refugees and vulnerable children worldwide.

Filippo Grandi (Italy) served as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees from 2016 to 2025. With decades of humanitarian experience in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, he led UNHCR’s global efforts to protect people forced to flee conflict and persecution. He is vice president of the Olympic Refuge Foundation and received the Olympic Laurel at the Paris 2024 Games, an honor for outstanding contributions to education, culture, development and peace through sport.

Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) is one of the greatest long-distance runners of all time. A five-time Olympian (Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024), he is a two-time Olympic marathon champion (Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020). He pushed human limits by running a marathon in under two hours (1:59:40) in Vienna 2019, becoming a global symbol of excellence, discipline and perseverance. He is also a UNESCO honorary ambassador for sport, integrity and values.

Cindy Ngamba is an athlete from the Olympic Refugee Team. At age 11 she was forced to flee to the United Kingdom, where she first trained in football before discovering boxing as her true passion. At the Paris 2024 Olympics she made history by winning the first Olympic medal (bronze) for the Olympic Refugee Team.

Pita Taufatofua (Tonga) is a pioneering athlete and humanitarian. He was the first Tongan to represent his country at both the Summer Games (taekwondo in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020) and the Winter Games (cross-country skiing in PyeongChang 2018). Beyond Olympic competition, he is widely recognized for humanitarian work in disaster relief, youth empowerment, education and climate resilience in the Pacific. He was named a UNICEF Pacific ambassador, advocating for children’s rights, education and health.

Flag-bearers in Cortina

Franco Nones, born in Val di Fiemme, was the first Italian Olympic champion in cross-country skiing. He won the 30 km gold at the Grenoble 1968 Winter Olympics, breaking the long-standing Scandinavian dominance in the discipline. In addition to Olympic gold, he won a bronze at the 1966 World Championships in Oslo and a total of 16 national titles.

Martina Valcepina competes for the Fiamme Oro sports club and is a member of Italy’s short track team. She won three Olympic medals between 2014 and 2018: two silver and one bronze, all in relay events. At European level she has won nine medals, including three golds from 2011 to 2018.

Opening ceremony

The Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games opening ceremony is an event not to be missed: on Friday, 6 February, at 20:00, Milan’s iconic San Siro Olympic Stadium will host a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle. Created by Balich Wonder Studio, the ceremony will unite sport, music and performance in an extraordinary evening, reflecting Italy’s rich history and its vision for the future, captivating the audience fortunate enough to experience it live.