It's Opening Ceremony day!
Today we have our Team Function, Flag Bearer announcement and Opening Ceremony. Follow along behind the scenes 🖤
Let the Games begin!
That's a wrap on the Opening Ceremony - and the beginning of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
Enjoy the wrap of this morning's celebrations, courtesy of Sky Sport.
The lighting of the Olympic Cauldron(s)!
The flame is finally lit at the Arch of Peace in Milan - and in a historic moment - another cauldron is simultaneously lit in Cortina.
Located in Milan at the Arco della Pace and in Cortina d’Ampezzo in Piazza Dibona, the cauldrons serve as a symbolic hub in each co-host city. They are inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s famous geometric interlace.
The lighting of the cauldrons also marks the end of the Olympic flame’s epic 63-day journey across Italy, spanning over 12,000 kilometres through 60 cities and 110 provinces.
With the cauldrons finally lit we can say it...
Let the Games begin! Let's go, New Zealand!
The moment we were all waiting for
The New Zealand Team make their grand entrance to Milano Cortina 2026
THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM HAVE ARRIVED!
:no_upscale())
Just moments to go...
:no_upscale())
The Fern Is All Of Us
While you're waiting to watch New Zealand fly the flag in Milan, why not take a snap of you and your friends and family supporting the Team back home!
Show our Team you’re behind them! Upload a picture of anything that shows your support - you, your mates, your dog in a tiny Fern jersey, whatever you’ve got - and you could appear on our digital billboards and social media.
Let's show our athletes that the fern really is all of us, then keep an eye out.. you might just see yourself backing New Zealand on the world stage.
Here's a shot of The New Zealand Team friends, family and staff cheering the Team on from NZ Lodge in Livigno!
Upload your photos at https://gf.fan/nzteam/allofus
:no_upscale())
Absolute pride
Coming soon to a screen near you...
This champion squad!
Watch them fly the flag at the Opening Ceremony LIVE on Sky Sport 3
:no_upscale())
Getting closer...
The New Zealand Team are making their way slowly toward the world stage.
Looking forward to seeing them march through Livigno in style!
:no_upscale())
En route!
Coming soon... The New Zealand Team is ready to fly the flag at the Opening Ceremony!
How's that for a selfie?!
:no_upscale())
Let the Games begin!
The Opening Ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games has begun!
Beginning in style with an explosion of chaos and colour, viewers can expect a sublime spectacle celebrating Italy's rich history of arts, music, fashion and culture - and Mariah Carey!
For those at home in Aotearoa New Zealand, you can watch it LIVE NOW on Sky Sport 3.
"This is incredibly special, and I feel incredibly honoured"
Zoi Sadowski-Synnott and Ben Barclay reflect on what being named Flagbearers means to them.
The honour of carrying the flag.
E whakahī ana au, so proud 🌿🖤
The team (and the teams behind the team!)
Sadowski-Synnott & Barclay named NZ Team flag bearers
NZ Team Chef de Mission, Marty Toomey presented Te Hono Ki Matariki, the first of the NZ Team’s kākahu (cloak) to Sadowski-Synnott and Barclay was presented with Aroha Atu Aroha Mai.
:no_upscale())
Upcoming Flagbearer announcement
Watch this space at 4.30pm Italian time for the announcement of our Ngā Pou Hāpai, NZ Team flag bearers!
:no_upscale())