Armenian Athletes Carry Tricolor at Opening Ceremony of 2026 Winter Olympics

Armenia’s athletes proudly took part in the opening ceremony parade of nations at the 25th Winter Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, carrying the national tricolor before a global audience.

Figure skaters Karina Akopova and Nikita Rakhmanin were chosen as Armenia’s flag bearers for the ceremony. The pair made history earlier in the season by securing Armenia’s first-ever Olympic quota in pair figure skating since independence.

Behind the flag, Armenia’s full Olympic delegation followed, including cross-country skiers Mikael Mikaelyan and Katya Galstyan, as well as alpine skier Harutyun Harutyunyan. Together, the five athletes represented Armenia across skiing and figure skating events at the Games.

As they entered the stadium, the Armenian tricolor was met with cheers from spectators, including members of the Armenian diaspora who had traveled to Italy to witness the historic moment. The parade is the official start of Armenia’s Olympic campaign, ahead of several days of competition across the Winter Games’ packed schedule.

For Armenian fans around the world, the flag parade is a proud reminder of the country’s growing presence in winter sports and the dedication of its athletes on the Olympic stage.

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