India at the Olympics | |
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IOC code | IND |
NOC | Indian Olympic Association |
Website | www |
Medals |
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Summer appearances | |
Winter appearances | |
Other related appearances | |
Independent Olympic Participants (2014) |
This is a list of flag bearers who have represented India at the Olympics. [1] Flag bearers carry the national flag of their country at the opening ceremony of the Summer and Winter Olympic Games.
Men and women from across the country and from a variety of sports have been chosen to bear the flag at the opening ceremonies. Field hockey player Balbir Singh Sr. and Luge runner Shiva Keshvan are the only athletes who have been given the honour on more than one occasion. Balbir Singh Sr. was given this honour twice in 1952 and 1956 Summer Olympics, while Shiva Keshavan led the Indian contingent four times in 1998, 2002, 2010 and 2018 Winter Olympics. In the 1992 Summer Olympics, Shiny Abraham-Wilson became the first woman to carry the flag of India at the opening ceremony of any Olympics. The first female flag bearer at the Winter Olympics was Neha Ahuja at the 2006 Winter Olympics. [2] [3] [4]
# | Event year | Flag bearer | Sport |
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1 | 1988 | Kishor Rahtna Rai | Alpine skiing |
2 | 1998 | Shiva Keshavan | Luge |
3 | 2002 | Shiva Keshavan | Luge |
4 | 2006 | Neha Ahuja | Alpine skiing |
5 | 2010 | Shiva Keshavan | Luge |
6 | 2018 | Shiva Keshavan | Luge |
7 | 2022 | Arif Khan | Alpine skiing |
India sent a delegation to compete at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy from 10–26 February 2006. This was the nation's seventh appearance in a Winter Olympic Games. The Indian delegation consisted of four athletes, two in alpine skiing, one in cross-country skiing, and one in luge. Their best performance in any event was 25th by luger Shiva Keshavan in the men's singles.
Thailand sent a delegation to compete at the 2006 Winter Olympics, in Turin, Italy from 10–26 February 2006. This was Thailand's second appearance at a Winter Olympic Games after the 2002 Winter Olympics. The Thai delegation consisted of one athlete, cross-country skier Prawat Nagvajara, who finished the 15 kilometre classical in 96th place.
During the Parade of Nations at the 2010 Winter Olympics opening ceremony, held beginning at 6:00 PM PST on February 12, 2010, 82 athletes bearing the flags of their respective nations led their national delegations as they paraded into BC Place Stadium in the host city of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
The opening ceremony of the 2010 Commonwealth Games was held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the main stadium of the event, in New Delhi, India. It began at 7:00 PM (IST) on 3 October 2010 ending at 10:00 PM (IST) displaying India's varied culture in a plethora of cultural showcases. Wizcraft was given the contract to produce the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
Chad competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, which was held from 27 July to 12 August 2012. This marked the nation's eleventh appearance at the Summer Olympics since its debut in the 1964 Summer Olympics. The Chadian delegation included track and field athlete Hinikissia Ndikert and judoka Carine Ngarlemdana. Ngarlemdana was the flag bearer for the opening ceremony and Ndikert was the flag bearer for the closing ceremony. Neither of Chad's athletes progressed beyond the first round of their events. Chad was one of only two countries to have a female-only team at the 2012 games.
Balbir Singh Dosanjh, predominantly known as Balbir Singh Sr., was an Indian hockey player and coach. He was a three-time Olympic gold medallist, having played a key role in India's wins in London (1948), Helsinki (1952), and Melbourne (1956) Olympics. He is regarded as one of the greatest hockey players of all time, a modern-day Dhyan Chand, a legend of the sport, and is widely regarded as the sport's greatest ever centre-forward. His Olympic record for most goals scored by an individual in an Olympic men's hockey final remains unbeaten. Singh set this record when he scored five goals in India's 6–1 victory over the Netherlands in the gold medal game of the 1952 Olympic Games. He was often called Balbir Singh Senior to distinguish him from other Indian hockey players named Balbir Singh. Singh scored 246 goals from just 61 international caps
India competed at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, from 9 to 25 February 2018. The Indian team consisted of two male athletes competing in two sports.
During the closing ceremony of the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, the flag bearers for the 205 National Olympic Committee's (NOCs) and the IOC Refugee Olympic Team will enter the Olympic Stadium. The flags of each country were not necessarily carried by the same flag bearer as in the opening ceremony. Due to COVID-19 related protocols, athletes had to leave Japan within 48 hours from completion of their final event, leaving some countries without representation during the closing ceremony. Flags of the countries without athletes present were instead carried by volunteers.
During the Parade of Nations at the 2022 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony, held on 28 July 2022, athletes bearing the flags of their respective nations lead their national delegations as they paraded into Alexander Stadium in the host city of Birmingham, England. A total of 72 Commonwealth Games Associations entered into the stadium.