Winter Olympics 2026: blocked by a train problem, the Belgian flag bearer will miss the opening ceremony

Small hiccup for Belgium even before the start of the 2026 Winter Olympics. Just a few hours before the long-awaited opening ceremony, the Belgian delegation learned that it would have to do with just one flag bearer and not two during the parade this Friday evening from 8 p.m.

If certain nations have only one representative – and therefore only one standard bearer – engaged in Milan-Cortina, this is not the case for Belgium. Thirty Belgians will compete during these Games, and a little more than half were expected to participate in the opening ceremony, according to the daily Le Soir. There were to be 16 of them spread across three sites, including San Siro, including two flag bearers.

But this Friday, speed skater Hanne Desmet will be the only one to carry the black-yellow-red flag high since the one who was to be at her side, Maximilien Drion, will not be present in Italy… due to a train problem blocking him in Switzerland, where he lives.

Returning to Italy on February 19 for his competition

“Because of problems linked to train connections, it will not arrive on time even after having explored different alternatives,” explained the Belgian Interfederal Olympic Committee (COIB) at the end of the day.

Maximilien Drion was supposed to arrive in Milan this Friday afternoon to participate in the opening ceremony before returning home the next day. Very sheepish, he will therefore return to Bormio on Tuesday February 17, two days before the start of his ski mountaineering competition.

The 2.5 hour opening ceremony is planned for four sites, San Siro in Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Predazzo and Livigno, and will notably see the Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, Laura Pausini and Mariah Carey appear on stage, before the two Olympic cauldrons are lit to officially launch these Games.