Olympia 2022: German flag bearers at the Winter Games - all information

Created: 01/12/2022, 09:46 AM

The German team with flag bearer Eric Frenzel at the opening ceremony in Pyeongchang 2018 © Michael Kappeler / dpa

The German flag bearers are elected according to a fixed procedure that has changed several times in the past.

For the 2022 Winter Olympics, candidates are expected to be nominated shortly before the start of the competitions.

Berlin - On January 6, 2022, the record speed skater Claudia Pechstein brought herself into play as the German flag bearer for the 2022 Winter Olympics.

The 49-year-old athlete is taking part in the Winter Olympics for the eighth time.

In the run-up to the last Winter Games, which took place in Pyeongchang in February 2018, Pechstein had already expressed the wish to carry the flag for Team Germany.

It was nominated by the Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB), but failed in the vote.

In contrast, the athlete wore the German flag twice at the closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics, in 1994 in Lillehammer and in 2006 in Turin.

German flag bearers at the Olympic Winter Games: Review

Before the current Olympic Winter Games in 2022, the following athletes took on the role of German flag bearer at the opening ceremony of these Winter Games since reunification:

• Albertville 1992: Bobsleigh driver Wolfgang Hoppe

• Lillehammer 1994: Biathlete Mark Kirchner

• Nagano 1998: cross-country skier Jochen Behle

• Salt Lake City 2002: Ski racer Hilde Gerg

• Turin 2006: biathlete Kati Wilhelm

• Vancouver 2010: Bobsledder Andre Lange

• Sochi 2014: Ski racer Maria Höfl-Riesch

• Pyeongchang 2018: Nordic combined athlete Eric Frenzel

In chronological order, the following athletes led the German team Germany to the stadium for the closing ceremony:

• Albertville 1992: Cross-country skier Antje Misersky

• Lillehammer 1994: speed skater Claudia Pechstein

• Nagano 1998: speed skater Gunda Niemann

• Salt Lake City 2002: Luge rider Georg Hackl

• Turin 2006: speed skater Claudia Pechstein

• Vancouver 2010: Biathlete Magdalena Neuner

• Sochi 2014: Luge rider Felix Loch

• Pyeongchang 2018: Ice hockey player Christina Ehrhoff

German flag bearers for the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics: The procedure for selection

It is to be expected that the election of the German flag bearer for the 2022 Winter Olympics will be similar to that of the winter and summer games of the past.

The German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOS) had five candidates to choose from.

The following services and characteristics play an important role as criteria for nomination:

• the successes achieved so far, especially in previous Olympiads

• Chances of success at the current Olympic Games

• Role model function with regard to fairness and rejection of doping, also outside of sport

• gender balance (at least two women or men)

In addition, the athletes should represent the diversity of the sports represented at the Olympic Winter Games.

For this reason, the DOSB always nominates athletes from various disciplines.

A digital election will then take place.

The public, who can vote online, and the athletes each have 50 percent of the vote.

At the last Summer Olympics, which were held in Tokyo in 2021, two athletes carried the German flag together for the first time: the beach volleyball player Laura Ludwig and the diver Patrick Hausding led the German team into the stadium with the flag.

Before that, there was always only one German standard-bearer.

German flag bearers for the closing ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics: The nomination process

The criteria for the selection of the German flag bearer to carry the flag at the closing ceremony are similar to those for the candidate for the opening ceremony.

Particular attention is paid to performance and behavior during the past games.

It can be assumed that, as in the previous Olympics, the DOSB will announce five candidates shortly before the start of the 2022 Winter Olympics.

The public and the Olympians will then vote in a vote which two athletes will carry the German flag.

Experts are counting on the DOSB to nominate a man and a woman again.

The double occupation of the flag bearer at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo was well received by athletes and the public alike.