Speed skater Ning Zhongyan and short track speed skater Zhang Chutong will serve as China's flagbearers at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic Games, the Chinese delegation announced on Wednesday.

Ning, 26, won three golds in the men's team sprint, 1,000 metres and 1,500 metres at the Asian Winter Games in 2025 in Harbin.

Zhang, 22, took gold in the women's 3,000-metre relay at the 2025 Asian Winter Games and came third in the same event at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games.

Hong Kong, China will have alpine skier Eloise King and short track speed skater Kwok Tsz-fung as its flagbearers at the ceremony, the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC) announced.

King, who will compete in the women’s slalom event, made history last year by achieving Hong Kong’s best-ever result at the Alpine World Ski Championships with a 35th-place finish in the discipline.

“I am very honoured to serve as a flagbearer for the Hong Kong, China delegation," she said.

"As I will also represent team Hong Kong, China in competition thereafter, this recognition holds even greater significance for me.”

Kwok, who reached the quarterfinals in short track speed skating at last year’s Asian Winter Games, is set to race in the men’s 1,000-metre and 1,500-metre events.

“It is a tremendous honour to be a flagbearer. Representing Hong Kong, China carries profound meaning for me, and I feel even more prestigious than in regular competitions," he said.

The opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Games will be held on Friday at Milan's San Siro Stadium.

China is sending 126 athletes to the Winter Olympics while the SAR will feature four athletes.

The Games will be held from February 6 to 22.