The Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics officially begin this Friday (6), with opening ceremonies scheduled for two iconic locations in Italy: San Siro Stadium in Milan, and the city of Cortina. The ceremony will start at 4 PM (Brasília time), bringing together around 2,900 athletes from 92 countries. Brazil will be represented by 14 competitors, marking the largest Brazilian delegation ever sent to a Winter Olympics edition.
The competition will continue until February 22, and Brazilian athletes hope to achieve unprecedented results, with real chances of podium finishes in sports where the country has grown in recent years.
One of the symbolic highlights of the opening ceremony will be the presence of gymnast Rebeca Andrade, the most decorated Brazilian athlete with Olympic medals in the traditional Summer Olympics. Invited by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the event organizers, she was chosen to carry the Olympic Flag alongside seven other international personalities.
Rebeca celebrated the selection and highlighted the significance of the moment in her sports career. “It’s a huge honor and pride to receive this invitation from the IOC. It’s a privilege to take part in this movement, to be alongside athletes from around the world, to carry the Olympic Flag, and to represent Brazil once again in such a special moment for all athletes and sports lovers,” she declared.
In addition to her, other parade participants include Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge, refugee athlete Cindy Ngamba, and Italian activist Nicolò Govoni, among other international guests.
Nicole Silveira and Lucas Pinheiro Will Be Brazil’s Flag Bearers
The Brazilian delegation will be represented in the parades by two standout athletes. In Cortina, Nicole Silveira, a national reference in skeleton and fourth place in the last World Championship in the discipline, will carry the flag. In Milan, the responsibility falls to Lucas Pinheiro, one of the rising names on the international alpine skiing scene.
Nicole expressed her emotion upon receiving the invitation and highlighted the importance of the gesture for the growth of Brazilian winter sports. “Receiving the invitation was thrilling. It’s a huge pride and honor to carry the Brazilian flag on this grand stage, especially in winter sports, where our country has been growing. This moment represents so much of the journey I’ve been building over the years. And, of course, I take this position with responsibility, because today Brazil is a respected country in the sports world. This shows the world that it’s possible to strive to reach the top,” she said.
Lucas also highlighted the significance of the moment and showed competitive ambition. “I can’t wait to represent our colors and carry our flag. It’s a huge honor. Brazil is not here just to participate. It’s here to make a difference,” he declared.
The Bolsa Atleta Program Strengthens Presence at the Games
One of the main pillars for Brazil in this edition will be the Bolsa Atleta program. Of the 14 confirmed athletes, seven are currently beneficiaries and two others have received support in previous calls. In total, nine members of the delegation have received support from the program at some point in their careers.
The Minister of Sports, André Fufuca, highlighted the importance of federal investment for Brazilian sports performance and recalled the program’s impact in recent competitions. “Of the 14 athletes who will compete, nine have already received Bolsa Atleta (with seven still being beneficiaries). 90% of the athletes who participated in the Paris Olympics (2024) received support. In the Paralympics (in Paris), the reach was 100%. Now, we arrive in Milan, at the Winter Games, with a large number of athletes supported by the program, which is a world reference. We can’t bring snow to Brazil, but we have the guarantee that Bolsa Atleta can help us bring medals to our country,” he stated.
According to the official statement, the total amount of resources allocated directly to the athletes throughout their careers exceeds R$ 1.6 million. Among the beneficiaries, Nicole Silveira stands out, who receives support in the Pódio category, considered the highest level of the program.
Brazil House Inaugurated in Milan
Before the official start of the competitions, the Brazilian government inaugurated Brazil House this Thursday (5), a space created to bring together fans, athletes, and authorities during the 17 days of the event. The location will serve as a cultural showcase of the country, with programming focused on sports, music, art, and traditional Brazilian expressions.
Minister André Fufuca explained the purpose of the space and its symbolic role for the delegation. “It’s a house where Brazilians in Italy can cheer for Brazil. And where Italians can learn about our culture and, most importantly, where Brazil can show its greatness of spirit, soul, and heart to the whole world,” he declared.
The Opening Ceremony Will Feature Mariah Carey, Laura Pausini, and Andrea Bocelli
The ceremony at San Siro Stadium will also feature performances by major international artists. Confirmed names include five-time Grammy winner Mariah Carey, Italian singer Laura Pausini, and tenor Andrea Bocelli.
In Cortina, other tributes and participations also mark the event, including historic figures from Italian sports, such as Franco Nones, Olympic champion in cross-country skiing, and Martina Valcepina, a reference in short track speed skating.
Brazil Completes 10 Participations in the Winter Olympics
Milan-Cortina marks Brazil’s 10th participation in the history of the Winter Olympics. The country debuted in the competition in Albertville in 1992, and since then has been present in Lillehammer-1994, Nagano-1998, Salt Lake City-2002, Turin-2006, Vancouver-2010, Sochi-2014, PyeongChang-2018, and Beijing-2022.
To date, Brazil’s best results have been Isabel Clark’s 9th place in snowboard at Turin 2006 and Nicole Silveira’s 13th place in skeleton at Beijing 2022. Before this edition, 40 Brazilian athletes—27 men and 13 women—had already represented the country in nine different disciplines.
The Brazilian team in Milan-Cortina brings together athletes with varied profiles, including competitors trained abroad, athletes who changed sports nationality, and young talents who have already racked up impressive results.
Among the highlights is Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, born in Oslo to a Brazilian mother and Norwegian father. After representing Norway until 2022/2023, he began competing for Brazil in 2024 and achieved historic results, including nine podiums in Alpine Skiing World Cup stages and a title won in Levi, Finland.
In alpine skiing, Brazil will also be represented by Christian Oliveira, Giovanni Ongaro, and Alice Padilha, considered one of the country’s top female prospects, who secured a spot in the slalom.
In cross-country skiing, the team will consist of Eduarda Ribera, Bruna Moura, and Manex Silva. Ribera has already participated in the Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne and competed in Beijing 2022, while Bruna will make her Olympic debut after missing the previous edition due to an accident.
In snowboard halfpipe, the representatives will be Pat Burgener and Augustinho Teixeira. Burgener, who previously represented Switzerland, began competing for Brazil in 2025 and achieved unprecedented results for the country, including final appearances and a World Cup podium. Augustinho, meanwhile, was the 2025 Europa Cup champion and has stood out in recent international competitions.
In Brazilian bobsled, Edson Bindilatti will compete, holder of the national record for Olympic participations and contesting his sixth edition, along with Davidson de Souza, Rafael Souza, Luis Bacca, and Gustavo Ferreira. Bindilatti is considered one of the pioneers of the discipline in the country and has participated since Salt Lake City 2002.
Source: brasil247.com