Just one nation did not have a flagbearer during the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, which took place at the San Siro in Milan.
The Milan-Cortina Games got underway on February 4, with the opening ceremony formally opening the event on February 6.
Representatives of 91 of the 92 nations were paraded around the iconic Giuseppe Meazza stadium as Andrea Bocelli, who sang ‘Nessun dorma’ as the Olympic torch entered the stadium, performed alongside Mariah Carey, while actress Charlize Theron delivered a speech in which she called for “peace everywhere”.
There were also performances from Italian musicians Cecilia Bartoli, Laura Pausini, Ghali and Lang Lang.
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Several artists and dancers also performed, with some even dressed up like Italian coffee pots, given the location of the Games.
Festivities were also held in Cortina, Predazzo and Livigno.
Meanwhile, athletes from all participating nations walked into the stadium during the Parade of Nations with representatives of each country carrying signs resembling blocks of ice.
Team USA were clad in Ralph Lauren wool coats and sweaters, with Team GB wearing white and red scarves created by former Olympic diver Tom Daley.
Also, 91 of the 92 participating nations had designated flagbearers, with bobsleigh star Brad Hall and figure skater Lilah Fear doing the honours for Great Britain.
While bobsleigh athlete Frank Del Duca and speed skater Erin Jackson held the star-spangled banner on behalf of the US team.
However, one nation’s flag was borne by a volunteer rather than an athlete.
Monaco, like Eritrea, Ghana, San Marino, Bermuda, Ecuador, Kenya, Malta and Singapore, has just one athlete competing at the games, meaning there was little choice in regard to who could hold the nation's flag at the ceremony.
But due to the Monegasque athlete being set to compete on Saturday (February 7), a lucky volunteer was chosen to carry the flag instead.
"Now this will be interesting," commentator Nick Mullins explained on TNT Sports during the ceremony.
"Monaco are a one-man Monegasque team, and skier Arnaud Alessandria isn't dressing up for this Opening Ceremony [due to competing on Saturday], so that is a volunteer.
"A lucky volunteer who came out in the raffle gets to carry the flag. No idea who he is. I tried hard to find his name."
Alpine skier Arnaud Alessandria will take part in the men’s downhill event, which begins at 10:30 am on Saturday and was likely getting some rest on Friday rather than making an appearance at the ceremony.
Luke Davies