Thomas Maloney Westgard and Anabelle Zurbay will be the flagbearers for Ireland at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games opening ceremony.
In line with the commitment to gender equality from the International Olympic Committee, the pair represent experience and emerging talent within the team.
The ceremony will see events across the four Olympic clusters, with celebration events in Cortina, Livigno and Predazzo, along with the main event in San Siro.
In Milan the spectators will enjoy an which includes five-time Grammy Award winner Mariah Carey, Golden Globe winner Laura Pausini, as well Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli.
Born to a Galway mother, Norwegian-based cross-country skier Maloney Westgard will carry the flag in the Predazzo cluster, while 17-year-old Zurbay, with family links to Rosemount in Westmeath, will walk in the Cortina cluster.
Ben Lynch and Cormac Comerford, Ireland’s other two competitors, will both walk in the Livigno athlete parade.
Maloney Westgaard, who is about to become a three-time Olympian, is proud of the achievement: “To be named an Allianz Flagbearer for Team Ireland is a huge honour.
“The Olympics are the pinnacle of sport, and to carry the Irish flag alongside Anabelle, is something I’m incredibly proud of and I know I will cherish for the rest of my life.
“I hope we can inspire people back home and show what is possible for Irish athletes, and winter Olympic hopefuls on the world stage.”
Zurbay, still a student, was shocked by the honour: “It was a big surprise to be asked to carry the flag for Ireland, with Thomas. It’s so exciting to be competing in my first Olympic Games, and to start that experience with such a big opportunity, is really special.”
Team Ireland leader Nancy Chillingworth said: “Thomas and Anabelle perfectly represent what Team Ireland stands for – excellence, ambition and balance.
“From the youngest to the most experienced athlete on the team, they embody the progress of Irish winter sport and the values of the Olympic movement.”
Team Ireland schedule
Friday 6 February: Opening ceremony – Milano (Irish in the Livigno, Cortina and Predazzo clusters)
Saturday 7 February: Cormac Comerford – Downhill (Alpine Skiing), Bormio
Sunday 8 February: Thomas Maloney Westgaard – 10km + 10km Skiathlon (Cross Country), Predazzo
Wednesday 11 February: Cormac Comerford – Super-G (Alpine Skiing), Bormio
Friday 13 February: Thomas Maloney Westgaard – 10km Free (Cross Country), Predazzo
Saturday 14 February: Cormac Comerford – Giant Slalom Run 1 & 2 (Alpine Skiing), Bormio
Sunday 15 February: Anabelle Zurbay – Giant Slalom Run 1 & 2 (Alpine Skiing), Cortina
Monday 16 February: Cormac Comerford – Slalom Run 1 & 2 (Alpine Skiing), Bormio
Wednesday 18 February: Anabelle Zurbay – Slalom Run 1 & 2 (Alpine Skiing), Cortina
Thursday 19 February: Ben Lynch – Halfpipe Qualification (Freestyle Skiing), Livigno
Friday 20 February: Ben Lynch – Halfpipe Final (Freestyle Skiing), Livigno
Saturday 21 February: Thomas Maloney Westgaard – 50km Classic (Cross Country), Predazzo
Sunday 22 February: Closing Ceremony – Verona (All athletes)
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