The Olympic Federation of Ireland is delighted to announce that Ben Lynch, Irish freestyle skier, will serve as Team Ireland’s flagbearer at the Closing Ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Verona tonight.
Lynch capped off a standout Games for Ireland with a historic performance that saw him become the first Irish skier to qualify for a Winter Olympics halfpipe final, ultimately finishing eighth in the men’s halfpipe, one of Ireland’s best Winter Olympic results to date.
The Closing Ceremony takes place in the historic Verona Arena this evening, bringing together the four Irish athletes for the first time since their team camp in Bolzano last month. The unique ceremony will bring together the themes that have been woven through these Games which have centred on a celebration of the pure spirit of sport, music, art and the unity and enduring bonds between athletes and nations.
Team Ireland’s four-athlete delegation has delivered memorable competition across Northern Italy over the past sixteen days. Three names have been added to our Winter Olympians list, bringing the total to thirty-six.
These Games saw strong performances across the entire Team Ireland squad. One of the standout moments came last Friday in Livigno, where the halfpipe finals delivered a thrilling spectacle. Irish freestyle skier Ben Lynch marked his Olympic debut in style, surpassing his own pre-competition expectations by qualifying for the Olympic final and pushing his performance further with the addition of new tricks, securing the best results of his career to date.
In Alpine skiing, Cormac Comerford competed with determination across all four individual events, posting solid results in downhill, Super-G, giant slalom, and slalom in Bormio. Thomas Maloney Westgård, in his third Olympic Games, closed out the Irish programme with a gritty 23rd place in the demanding men’s 50 km cross-country mass start classic in Predazzo. Meanwhile, 17-year-old Anabelle Zurbay represented Ireland in Alpine slalom and giant slalom, becoming Ireland’s youngest Winter Olympian in these events.
A special highlight of the Irish team’s presence this year has been the support from the Olympic Solidarity programme; both Cormac Comerford and Thomas Maloney Westgård are recipients of IOC Scholarships for Athletes, which have been instrumental in recognising their commitment and supporting their preparations for these Games.
On being named flagbearer, Ben Lynch said,
“To carry the Irish flag at the Closing Ceremony is an incredible honour. After making history by reaching the halfpipe final, something I dreamed of for years, this moment brings it all together. I’m proud of what our team has achieved in Milano Cortina and hope our performances inspire more people back home to pursue their sporting dreams.”
Chef de Mission Nancy Chillingworth added,
“Ben’s performance in the halfpipe really set Ireland alight, and we are delighted to name him as flagbearer for the closing ceremony tonight in Verona, in what promises to be a really special event. It will be a perfect way to celebrate the performances and achievements of the Irish team in these Winter Olympic Games.
“I am immensely proud of every athlete who represented Ireland in Milano Cortina, they competed with determination, professionalism and pride, and at a really high level. The performances we have seen here underline the progress being made in Irish winter sports, and they give us great confidence and optimism for the future as we continue to build towards the next Olympic cycle.”
Team Ireland will return home to a formal welcome event in Dublin on Monday, culminating an historic and inspiring chapter in the nation’s Winter Olympic story.
The Winter Olympians arrive in Dublin Airport on Monday morning (23 February) on flight EI433 at 13:25. They will be at their official homecoming at the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, Leeson Lane, Dublin at 16:00. Media who are interested in attending must contact press.office@ccs.gov.ie by 10:00 on Monday, 23 February.
SCHEDULE DAY 16 – SUNDAY 22 FEBRUARY (All times are Irish times – Italy is one hour ahead)
19:30 Closing Ceremony – Milano Cortina 2026.