Winter Olympics

Milan Cortina, Mattarella hands the tricolour to the flag bearers: 'Games will be message of peace'

Mattarella presents the tricolour to the Olympic and Paralympic flag bearers before the Milan and Cortina Olympics

by Lorenzo Pace

22 December 2025

Gli atleti italiani Federico Pellegrino, a sinistra, e Arianna Fontana ricevono dal Presidente della Repubblica Sergio Mattarella la bandiera italiana per i Giochi Olimpici Invernali di Milano-Cortina, presso il palazzo presidenziale del Quirinale. (Foto AP/Gregorio Borgia)

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Key points

Mattarella: "Games will be message of peace"
Sentences on Goggia and Brignone
Who are the flag-bearers
Bonfigli: "Difficult to choose flag-bearers"
Abodi: "We will be at the centre of the world"

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

An hour-long ceremony. In the packed hall of the Quirinale, the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella handed over the tricolour to the Italian flag bearers, in view of the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina (6 to 22 February 2026) and the Winter Paralympics (6 to 15 March 2026).

Mattarella: 'Games will be a message of peace'

The Games will be "a showcase for Italy", which "will be at the centre of the world" but not only. "The Olympic competitions reflect respect and trust," said Mattarella, adding that "the message of peace, friendship and solidarity during the Games will be important.

'I am convinced that you will make the country proud, I will be your first supporter, I wish you success and friendship'. And on the Paralympic Movement, Mattarella concluded: 'We have tried to make it grow, I reaffirm my closeness and gratitude to those who dedicate themselves to it. This is how we increase inclusion, a symbol of civilisation"

Sentences on Goggia and Brignone

In his speech, the Head of State mentioned two Italian female skiers: Sofia Goggia, who "has already given a good push" and Federica Brignone, who "I am glad to see here ready and determined". Goggia, in fact, is fresh from her victory in the Val d'Isere super-G on Sunday 21 December. While Brignone is back from an injury and only returned to skiing at the end of November: 'We were counting on this,' Mattarella said, 'when we spoke on the phone months ago.

Who are the flag bearers

Brignone is among the six Olympic flag bearers. She, together with curling champion Amos Mosaner, will be from Cortina. Short track champion Arianna Fontana and cross-country skier Federico Pellegrino, on the other hand, for Milan. The two Paralympic flag bearers, finally, will be Chiara Mazzel and Renè De Silvestro. They all said they were proud and ready to represent the country with an open heart.

Grandson: "Difficult to choose them"

After the opening of the ceremony, around 12 noon, Coni president Luciano Buonfiglio and Sports Minister Andrea Abodi spoke. In particular, Buonfiglio admitted that the choice of flag bearers 'was difficult. In the team there are many champions who can be standard-bearers. We balanced the choices between women, men, federations, the calendar and the distances. It was difficult to choose, but we were objective. Fontana is at her 6th participation, a unique symbol and the most successful Italian woman at the Games. Pellegrino is a serious and composed champion, at the crowning of a winning career. In Cortina we will have Brignone, an athlete who has moved and exalted Italy, a symbol of perseverance and resilience. Mosaner is an Olympic curling champion together with Costantini, who will read the oath in Cortina. We are ready to guarantee her maximum commitment, we know what it means to represent the country and the tricolour'.

"President Mattarella," he added, "is attentive to the athletes. It will be a unique event, we are competing in our country. We will hand over the flag to our athletes, an event that returns to our country after 20 years. The commitment is to make the tricolour fly more and more. There will be four athletes to hold the flag in their respective cities.

Abodi: 'We will be at the centre of the world'

To the standard-bearers, said Abodi, 'we also entrust the passion of the Italians. We expect the guarantee of the honour of representing the nation with the daily commitment that these boys have been carrying out for four years. We also entrust them with the Azzurri jersey, the dream of so many children. The Games are 46 days away, there are so many emotions. So many are working to be ready for 6 February and 6 March in this crossroads of sport that has no division, we will be the centre of the world and we want to be up to it'.

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