Milan/Cortina 2026 Olympic Games: French Delegation Celebration in Albertville
On February 23, 2026, the day after the closing of the Milan/Cortina 2026 Olympic Games, France will celebrate its athletes in Albertville (Savoie). The French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) confirmed that this event will also mark the ceremonial return of the Olympic flag to France.
“The decision to organise this symbolic return to Albertville, an emblematic venue in French Olympic history, was unanimously welcomed by all the parties involved: the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region, the Southern Region, the Ministry of Sport, Youth and the Voluntary Sector, the Organising Committee for the 2030 French Alps Olympic and Paralympic Games, and the town of Albertville.”
The Olympic flag, a strong symbol of unity and global sport, was officially transferred the previous evening during the Milan/Cortina 2026 closing ceremony in Verona (Italy) to representatives of the two regions hosting the French Alps 2030 Games.
“Thirty-four years after the 1992 Albertville Olympic Games, the last Winter Games to be held in France, this return of the flag and the French delegation will mark a major collective milestone toward the 2030 Games and a moment of celebration for the athletes.”
“Thirty-four years on, to see the French team return to Albertville accompanied by the Olympic flag is to celebrate both a powerful symbol and those who best embody it.”
Event Overview
- Date: Monday, February 23, 2026
- Location: Albertville, Savoie, France
- Occasion: Celebration of French delegation and return of the Olympic flag
- Organizers: CNOSF, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region, Southern Region, Ministry of Sport, Organising Committee for the French Alps 2030 Games
Symbolic Significance
This celebration links the past and future of French Olympic history, connecting Albertville 1992 with the upcoming 2030 French Alps Games, while honoring the achievements of French athletes.
Author’s summary: The return of the Olympic flag and French athletes to Albertville in 2026 will symbolize continuity in France’s Olympic legacy and set the stage for the 2030 Games.