At CONI’s Olympic Preparation Centre at Aquagranda in Livigno, the official ceremony announcing Australia’s flag bearers for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games took place (photos by Roberto Di Tondo/CONI).

With Friday 6 February approaching – the day of the Opening Ceremony and the inauguration of Casa Italia at the very same venue – the Olympic Committee’s centre hosted an event celebrating the friendship between the Italia Team and the Australian Olympic Team. This bond was underlined in the opening remarks by Carlo Mornati, CONI Secretary General and Head of the Italian Delegation:

“It is a great honour to host you. We hope you will enjoy the Olympic Games to the fullest – it will be an extraordinary event. This will be Casa Italia in Livigno, our hospitality house, which will also be present in Milan and Cortina. We are delighted by the friendship that binds us and wish you every success.”

Following the institutional greetings came the official announcement: Australia’s flag bearers will be freestyle skiers Jakara Anthony, reigning Olympic champion in moguls, and Matthew Graham, who won silver in the same discipline at PyeongChang 2018.