THE Philippines’ athletes in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo in Italy carried the country’s colors in the opening ceremony on Friday (early Saturday in Manila).
Alpine skiers Tallulah Proulx and Francis Ceccarelli carried the Philippine flag in different locations, as it was the first parade of athletes to be spread out in Olympic history.
Ceccarelli carried the flag from Livigno, while Proulx marched from Cortina d’Ampezzo.
They did not march from the ceremony’s main venue at the San Siro Stadium in Milan.
Both skiers will mark their first time participating in the Olympic Games, with Proulx being the first woman representing the Philippines.
Ceccarelli, 22, who was born in Quezon City, but currently based in the host nation, will compete in the men’s slalom and giant slalom. He is an Olympic Solidarity scholarship-holder.
Proulx, 17, who is based in the American state of Utah, host of the 2034 Winter Olympics, will take part in the women’s giant slalom and slalom. She is the youngest Filipina athlete to take part in the Winter Olympic Games.
Several flag bearers during the opening ceremony also featured National Hockey League (NHL) stars David Pastrnak, Nino Niederreiter, and Leon Draisaitl, as well as former NHL veteran Tomas Tatar. Speed skater Arianna Fontana being among the host nation’s flag bearers, along with several Olympic champions like Sara Hector of Sweden, and Mikaël Kingsbury and Marielle Thompson for Canada.
The Olympic flame was lit by Italian Winter Olympic Winter Alberto Tomba and Deborah Compagnoni in Milan and Olympic alpine skiing champion Sofia Goggia in Cortina d’Ampezzo.