Italy will be represented by 118 athletes at the Winter Olympics in Beijing. During the opening ceremony the Italian athletes wore tricolour capes designed by Giorgio Armani, who was also behind the tracksuits for Italy's Olympic and Paralympic last summer.

Armani described the tricolour-inspired capes as a "a tribute to our flag and the high values it represents, and which our athletes embody". Italian snowboarder Michela Moioli was the flag-bearer for Italy at the inauguration on Friday. The Italian team is made up of 46 women and 72 men, reports news agency ANSA.