Switzerland women’s hockey team held from Olympic Ceremony due to Norovirus
The Opening Ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics took place in the three hubs on Friday. The event is a spectacle, the official beginning of the Winter Games, giving athletes the opportunity to partake in an event that showcases the best athletes in the world.
However, there was a noticeable gap in one of the delegations.
The Swiss women’s hockey team wasn’t in attendance at San Siro Stadium. Per the Swiss Ice Hockey Federation, a member of the team tested positive for Norovirus, leading to the decision to keep the entire team from attending the Opening Ceremony.
According to a release, the test result came from an athlete that was received after Switzerland’s massive win over Czechia earlier in the day. The player, who had been housed in a single room at the Olympic Village, has been isolated since she started experiencing symptoms. The federation noted that the athlete was symptom-free as of Friday morning.
The entire team has now been isolated as a precautionary measure. As of now, no other players have had any symptoms.
It wasn’t confirmed until Saturday that Switzerland’s usual No. 1 goaltender, Andrea Brändli, tested positive. According to Radio-Canada’s Christine Roger, a PR representative stated that Brändli is no longer in isolation and is doing well. Saskia Maurer was called to action against the Czechs, making 33 saves through overtime, including turning away four shots in the shootout.
The talk of Norovirus has already affected other teams so far in the tournament. A substantial outbreak throughout Finland’s roster led to the team’s game against Canada being postponed from Thursday to Feb. 12. Finland is hopeful to be playing the United States on Saturday.
Switzerland is scheduled to face Canada on Saturday. There’s been no word of whether or not the Swiss will be able to participate.