Andorra's largest-ever Winter Olympics team of seven participated across multiple Italian venues, with

Andorra's record seven athletes took part in the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony on Friday, held across multiple Italian venues including Milan, Bormio, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Predazzo, and Livigno. Flag-bearers Joan Verdú carried the colours in Bormio, while Cande Moreno did so in Cortina d'Ampezzo, after organisers restricted delegations to two representatives each—a last-minute change that excluded Irineu Esteve in Predazzo.

The event featured flame lightings at Milan's Arc della Pace and Cortina's Piazza Dibona, culminating at San Siro stadium from 20:00 with delegations and officials present. Olympic Committee of Andorra (COA) president Xavier Espot Miró, in Milan, described it as "a great opening ceremony with a decentralised vision where Andorra was present at all our venues". He held informal talks with leaders from other small nations to boost future ties. Sports Minister Mònica Bonell attended a pre-ceremony reception hosted by her Italian counterpart.

Verdú, set for giant slalom on February 14 and currently 22nd in the World Cup standings with 60 points after three DNFs this season, called the honour "a special moment" but stressed the need to focus on racing. Moreno, riding high after her third-place Europa Cup super-G in Sarntal—Andorra's best women's speed result there at 1:15.31—called it "a special day", especially witnessing Cortina's cauldron lighting.

This largest-ever Andorran Winter Olympics team—five alpine skiers (Moreno, Jordina Caminal, Verdú, Carla Mijares, Xavi Cornella) and two cross-country (Esteve, Gina del Rio)—surpasses the six from Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014. Competition starts Saturday, with del Rio opening in the women's 20km skiathlon at Predazzo from 13:00 in classic-skate format, her Olympic debut following La Rabassa training. She noted positive feelings despite following the planned schedule amid testing skis on zero-degree snow shifting to rain. Esteve follows in the men's 20km skiathlon at 12:30, with added classic sprint on February 10, 10km on February 13, and 50km on February 21; concerns persist over his physical and mental readiness. Their coach Xabier del Val, with skimans Marc Puigsubirà and Cristian Zorzi, and physiotherapist Lluís Cortadellas, flagged uncertain weather forecasts.

In Cortina, Moreno and Caminal arrived Tuesday with coach Xoque Bellsolà, skimaster Mathis Cottet, physiotherapist Elia Villa, and FAE alpine director Roger Vidosa. Friday's downhill training was cancelled due to heavy snow from Thursday, with the next session set for Sunday from 11:30; they used the Olympic Village gym for activation and recovery, as FAE physical preparator Damià Costa explained. Bellsolà valued the extra time to establish routines amid complex logistics. Caminal, on her Olympic debut, found the village "a world apart full of activity and athletes", while Moreno highlighted the unique atmosphere of sharing space with other teams.

Mijares will race women's combined alongside Moreno and slalom on February 18; Cornella earned the men's slalom spot over Bartumeu Gabriel via a better FIS points average (28.19 vs 30.45). Gabriel voiced Instagram frustration over the "mentally and emotionally hard" process, though selection used objective criteria.

Espot hailed the "potent" team as evidence of federations' strong efforts, expecting solid showings without added pressure or predictions, likening forecasts to a lottery. He acknowledged logistical strains for small delegations in the spread-out format, which fragments the Olympic spirit, but stressed athlete support and post-Games school programmes to promote Olympic values.