Budapest: Short track speed skaters Maja Somodi and Bence Nogradi will serve as Hungary's flag bearers during the opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games. President of the Hungarian Olympic Committee (MOB), Zsolt Gyulay, made the announcement on Saturday during an oath-taking ceremony held at Sandor Palace, the official residence of the Hungarian President.According to Namibia Press Agency, Somodi, who will make her Olympic debut, expressed her pride and excitement about being chosen as one of the flag bearers. "I am proud and excited to be one of the flag bearers of our team. It is my first time to qualify for the Winter Olympic Games. I just want to be there and enjoy the challenges," she said.During the ceremony, Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok emphasized the significance of teamwork and resilience. He stated, "there is no small team, only a Hungarian team. In sport, team size is never the true measure of success. Qualifying for the Olympic Games already represents elite-level performance. The most important is perseverance and discipline."MOB President Gyulay reflected on Hungary's legacy and future prospects in winter sports. He noted that the country's winter sports delegation has achieved commendable results and now faces new challenges on the road to Milan-Cortina. "I firmly believe that at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, our team will fulfill its mission with dignity and honor," Gyulay added. He also highlighted Hungary's consistent participation in the Winter Olympics, having never missed a single edition in the past 24 events.The MOB reported that Hungary has accumulated a total of 544 Olympic medals, including 10 at the Winter Games, with two of those being gold, over the past 130 years. Adam Schmidt, State Secretary for Sports, acknowledged the rigorous demands faced by athletes in Winter Olympic sports, stating, "Precisely for this reason, the fact that you are standing here today, having successfully qualified for the Olympic Games, is already an extraordinary ac hievement."The 2026 Games, featuring 116 events across 16 disciplines, are scheduled to take place from February 6 to 22.