Haiti’s flag raised high at 2026 Winter Olympics ceremony

Haiti got its turn on the world stage Friday night as Stevenson Savart, a cross-country skier, carried the national flag during the Parade of Nations at the opening ceremony of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. 

The delegation also includes alpine skier Richardson Viano, a returning Olympian from Beijing 2022, as the team makes history for a nation rarely seen on snow.

The athletes’participation marks another historic moment for Haiti, its second time competing in the Winter Olympics games. Several other Haitian athletes were seen participating in a separate part of the parade at another ceremony in Livigno, Italy, highlighting the broader presence of Haitian competitors even beyond the official team.

Held at San Siro stadium in Milan, the ceremony officially launched the Games, which run through Feb. 22 across northern Italy. The ceremony featured the traditional Parade of Nations and the lighting of the Olympic cauldron, drawing a global television audience.

Viano made history as Haiti’s first Winter Olympian at the 2022 Beijing Games. He is slated to compete later in the Games, continuing Haiti’s small but symbolic presence in winter sports.

Savart and Viano wore a custom-designed uniform created by Italian-Haitian designer Stella Jean. Her hand-painted designs tend to draw international attention for their bold colors and cultural symbolism. This tournament’s garb is inspired by the work of Haitian artist Edouard Duval-Carrié , which depicts a charging red horse against a lush tropical background originally carrying Toussaint Louverture, symbolizing Haiti’s strength, resilience, and presence on the global stage.

The uniform emphasizes visibility and resilience for a nation rarely seen on the winter sports stage.

Haiti’s participation in the Winter Olympics traces back to the creation of its ski federation following the devastating 2010 earthquake. Since then, the program has relied in part on support from the International Olympic Committee’s Olympic Solidarity program to bring athletes to elite international competition.

As competition begins, Savart’s appearance in the opening ceremony offered a moment of representation and pride for Haitians at home and across the Haitian Diaspora, underscoring the country’s continued effort to claim space on one of sport’s largest stages.

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