On Monday, the presidential palace in Rome became the backdrop for a ceremony that would signal Italy’s readiness to host the 2026 Winter Olympics. President Sergio Mattarella personally handed the national flag to four athletes who will carry it into the Games, underscoring the nation’s pride in its winter sports stars.
Short-track speedskater Arianna Fontana, cross-country skier Federico Pellegrino, Alpine skier Federica Brignone and curler Amos Mosaner each received a flag. The ceremony also honored Chiara Mazzel and René De Silvestro, who will serve as flag bearers for the Paralympic Games.
Fontana and Pellegrino will carry the flag at the opening ceremony scheduled for February 6 at Milan’s San Siro soccer stadium. Brignone and Mosaner will perform the same duty in a simultaneous ceremony in Cortina d’Ampezzo on that night, marking a coordinated start to the Olympic and Paralympic events.
Fontana’s Olympic résumé is remarkable: she has earned an Italian women’s record 11 medals across five Winter Games, beginning in Turin in 2006. She also carried Italy’s flag during the opening ceremony of the 2018 Pyeongchang Games. “Even if this will be my sixth Olympics, and my second time as flag bearer, it’s still emotional,” Fontana said.
Pellegrino has claimed two silver medals at the Olympic Games, demonstrating consistency at the highest level of competition. Brignone is the defending overall World Cup champion and has collected a silver and two bronze medals at the Olympics, while also recovering from a major injury to compete in 2026.
Mosaner won gold in the mixed-doubles curling event at the 2022 Beijing Games together with teammate Stefania Constantini. His victory added to Italy’s growing reputation in the sport of curling.
The flag-bearing duties reflect each athlete’s status as ambassadors for Italian sport and their achievements on the world stage. The handover ceremony underscored the significance of the upcoming Games for Italy, a country that will host both the Olympic and Paralympic events in its cities and resorts.
The selected flag bearers will represent Italy’s commitment to excellence and unity as the nation prepares to welcome athletes from around the globe. Their presence at the opening ceremonies will serve as a symbol of national pride and international cooperation.
Key Takeaways
- Arianna Fontana, Federico Pellegrino, Federica Brignone and Amos Mosaner are Italy’s Olympic flag bearers for 2026.
- Fontana holds an Italian women’s record of 11 Olympic medals across five Games, starting in 2006.
- Brignone is the defending overall World Cup champion; Mosaner won gold in mixed-doubles curling at Beijing 2022.
The ceremony at the presidential palace highlighted Italy’s enthusiasm for the Games and the athletes’ readiness to lead the nation onto the world stage.
