France’s 4 flag bearers: (second and third from left) Paralympic Games flag bearers Alexis Hanquinquant and Nantenin Keita; (fourth and fifth from left) Olympic Games flag bearers Mélina Robert-Michon and Florent Manaudou.
France Names its Olympic and Paralympic Flag Bearers
by Philip Barker
Swimmer Florent Manaudou and discus thrower Mélina Robert-Michon have been chosen to carry the French flag at the Paris 2024 Olympic Opening Ceremony.
Robert-Michon first competed at Sydney 2000 and is set to take part in her seventh Olympics.
She won silver at Rio 2016.
“I am honoured and proud to have been chosen by our peers, being a standard bearer in France is something exceptional, a magical and historic moment.” said Robert-Michon.
Manaudou is set to compete in his fourth Olympic Games.
He won 50 metres freestyle gold at London 2012 and greeted the Paris 2024 Olympic Flame as the first Torchbearer when it arrived on the sailing ship Belem in Marseille.
“I now feel immense responsibility and am very happy to be part of this great family of flag bearers. I hope that the athletes will have an extraordinary experience and I will be there to contribute,” Manaudou said.
His sister Laure, an Olympic Champion 20 years ago in Athens sent a surprise video message.
“Who better to represent France, the athletes and the family?” she asked.
French Olympic Committee (CNOSF) President David Lappartient had made the announcement.
“The athletes of our delegation have chosen you to take them to the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games. I know you are honoured and I am proud of this choice.
“There are good moments in the life of a President of an Olympic Committee: telling you that you have been chosen as standard bearers of the French delegation is undoubtedly part of this.”
The flag bearers for the Paralympic Games are to be Rio 2016 400m gold medallist Nantenin Keita and Para triathlete Alexis Hanquinquant who won Paralympic gold in Tokyo.
My role as bearer flag is to show that, despite obstacles, we can all achieve our goals and realise our dreams,“ Hanquinquant explained.
“I also want to take advantage of this role to convey messages of respect, tolerance and tirelessly repeat that sport is a wonderful tool for inclusion and fulfilment in everyone’s lives. Together, we will make France shine!”
Keita had also had a central role when the Flame arrived in Marseille. She handed it to rapper JuL before he lit the cauldron.
“It is a great mark of confidence placed in me by the athletes and I am keen to live up to this role, to carry this flag is to carry the values of France, of sport, of the Paralympic movement and it is time for our country to discover what the Paralympic Games have to offer,” Keita insisted.
Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet had carried the French flag at the 2008 Games and other notable bearers have included quadruple gold medal winning fencer Christian d’Oriola in 1960 and judo gold medallist Teddy Riner who did so at both Opening and Closing Ceremonies in 2016.
Three years ago at Tokyo, France had joint flag bearers for the first time.
Judoka Clarisse Agbegnenou and gymnast Samir Ait Said were chosen.
There are no comments published yet.