Draisaitl, Schmid among German flag bearer nominees for Olympics

Ice hockey star Leon Draisaitl and seven-time ski jumping world champion Katharina Schmid are among the candidates to carry the German flag at the opening ceremony of the Milan/Cortina Winter Olympics on February 6.

Also on the shortlist compiled by the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) are Olympic champions Johannes Rydzek (Nordic combined skiing), Laura Nolte (bobsleigh), Tobias Wendl (luge doubles) and snowboarding hopeful Ramona Hofmeister.

For the fourth consecutive Games – following Tokyo 2021, Beijing 2022 and Paris 2024 – each nation will select one female and one male flag bearer.

Fans can vote online for their favourites, with voting open until February 3. The winners will be announced on February 5.

Athletes also have a say

Members of the German team can vote as well, with half of the final decision based on the athletes' votes.

If Draisaitl is chosen, the Edmonton Oilers star may need to travel earlier than planned. Under current, not-yet-finalized NHL schedules, North American players are expected to arrive in Italy after the opening ceremony.

The German Ice Hockey Federation is still awaiting final confirmation, the DEB told dpa.

Hofmeister and Wendl were also short-listed for 2022 but lost out to speed skater Claudia Pechstein and bobsleigh ace Francesco Friedrich.

Selection criteria

According to the DOSB, the pre-selection of three men and three women was based on sporting achievements and their role model function.

Nominees were also chosen to represent different sports and disciplines, and participation in the opening ceremony had to align with athletes' competition and training schedules, as the first medals will be awarded the day after the ceremony.

Opening ceremony across four locations

Due to long travel distances, the opening ceremony will take place simultaneously in four locations: the main venue at Milan’s San Siro stadium, as well as in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Livigno and Predazzo.

Flag bearers may not be in the same location, but the DOSB said that teams will enter at the same time at all sites “to create a sense of community.”