Milan/Cortina 2026 Olympic Games: flag bearers unveiled on 30 January
Early on Friday afternoon, at the gathering of the French Olympic and Paralympic team at the Gaîté Lyrique in Paris, the process for appointing the flag-bearers for the Milan/Cortina 2026 Olympic Games was unveiled.
First of all, there are a number of criteria for applying: you must already be an Olympian, embody Olympic values (ethics, integrity), not have been sanctioned for doping, manipulation of competitions, sexist and sexual violence or discrimination, and not have already been a flag-bearer.
As is now customary, a mixed duo will be elected, with two athletes who may come from the same Federation, but not from the same sport. So, for example, biathletes Quentin Fillon-Maillet and Justine Braisaz-Bouchet could both be candidates, but could not be elected together.
The process itself has been clarified, with several distinct stages:
- December: feedback from Federations on candidates
- 6 January: announcement of candidates
- 27-29 January: Delegation vote
- 30 January: unveiling of flag bearers
- 6 February: Opening ceremony
Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, President of the CNOSF, spoke at the press briefing attended by Nordic Magazine: “We are expecting the largest delegation in our history to take part in the Olympic Winter Games. Between 160 and 165 athletes, 45% of whom will be women, a record due in particular to the presence of the French women’s ice hockey team. […] We’re aiming for a top 5 finish in the medals table.
Finally, it should be noted that each athlete selected will be able to invite two family members.
[With Arthur Massot, in Paris]
The full biathlon programme for the Milan/Cortina 2026 Olympic Games
Sunday 8 February
- 2.05pm: 4×6 km mixed relay
Tuesday 10 February
- 13:30: Men’s 20 km individual
Wednesday 11 February
- 2.15pm: Women’s 15km individual
Friday 13 February
- 2pm: Men’s 10 km sprint
Saturday 14th February
- 2.00 pm: women’s 7.5 km sprint
Sunday 15 February
- 11.15am: Men’s 12.5km pursuit
- 2.45pm: women’s 10 km pursuit
Tuesday 17th February
- 2.30pm: Men’s 4×7.5 km relay
Wednesday 18 February
- 2.45pm: Women’s 4x6km relay
Friday 20 February
- 2.15pm: men’s 15km mass-start
Saturday 21 February
- 2.15pm: women’s 12.5 km mass-start
The complete programme for cross-country skiing at the Milan/Cortina 2026 Olympic Games
Saturday 7 February
- 1.00 pm: women’s 10 km CT + 10 km FT skiathlon
Sunday 8 February
- 12.30pm: men’s 10 km CT + 10 km FT skiathlon
Tuesday 10 February
- 9.15am: CT men’s and women’s sprint qualifiers
- 11.45am: men’s and women’s CT sprint finals
Thursday 12 February
- 13:00: Women’s individual 10 km FT
Friday 13 February
- 12.00: Men’s individual 10 km FT
Saturday 14th February
- 12.00: Women’s 4×7.5 km CT/FT relay
Sunday 15 February
- 12.00: Men’s 4×7.5 km CT/FT relay
Wednesday 18 February
- 9.45am: FT men’s and women’s team sprint qualifiers
- 11.45am: FT men’s and women’s team sprint finals
Saturday 21 February
- 11.00: 50 km mass-start CT men
Sunday 22 February
- 10.00: 50 km women’s CT mass-start
The full programme for ski jumping at the Milan/Cortina 2026 Olympic Games
Saturday 7 February
- 6.45pm: Women’s HS109 individual competition
Monday 9 February
- 7.00 pm: Men’s HS109 individual competition
Tuesday 10 February
- 6.45pm: HS109 mixed team competition
Saturday 14th February
- 6.45pm: Men’s HS143 individual competition
Sunday 15 February
- 6.45pm: Women’s HS143 individual competition
Monday 16th February
- 7.00 pm: Men’s HS143 Super Team
The full Nordic combined programme for the Milan/Cortina 2026 Olympic Games
Wednesday 11 February
- 10.00: Men’s gundersen HS109 ski jumping competition
- 1.45pm: men’s gundersen 10km FT cross-country ski pursuit
Tuesday 17th February
- 10.00: Men’s gundersen HS143 ski jumping competition
- 1.45pm: men’s gundersen 10km FT cross-country ski pursuit
Thursday 19 February
- 10.00: HS143 men’s team sprint ski jumping competition
- 2.00 pm: cross-country ski pursuit 2×7.5 km FT men’s team sprint
- Design of Milan/Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic medals unveiled
- CNOSF pre-Olympic gathering: the names of the French players who will be on the Presqu’île de Giens from 26 to 30 May
- Les Bleus begin their pre-Olympic training camp on the Presqu’île de Giens: discover the programme!
- A look back at the first day of the pre-Olympic gathering on the Presqu’île de Giens
- The photo album from the second day of the pre-Olympic gathering on the Presqu’île de Giens
- The photo album from the third day of the pre-Olympic gathering on the Presqu’île de Giens
- The photo album of the fourth day of the pre-Olympic gathering on the Presqu’île de Giens
- Milan/Cortina 2026 Games: the French Olympic and Paralympic team assembles this Friday in Paris… without the biathletes
- Milan/Cortina 2026 Paralympic Games: the French flag-bearers… will not be marching in the opening ceremony
