President Piñera announces the flagbearers of the Chilean delegation for the Tokyo Olympic Games: “I ask you all to give your best and to lift up the name of Chile”
The flagbearers of the delegation for the Paralympic Games will be swimmer Alberto Abarza and shot putter Francisca Mardones, while for the Olympic Games they will be sport shooter Francisca Crovetto and beach volleyball player Marcos Grimalt.
On Friday, President of Chile Sebastián Piñera announced the flagbearers who will represent Chile at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
“First of all, I want to congratulate and thank all of the athletes who will represent us, 56 in the Olympic Games and 19 in the Paralympic Games,” the President began, accompanied by the First Lady, Cecilia Morel, Sports Minister Cecilia Pérez and eight of the distinguished athletes who will represent Chile.
The delegation that will participate in the Tokyo Olympic Games will take part in the largest number of sports in Chile’s history, with 56 athletes in 24 different disciplines. The previous best had been London 2012, where Chile’s athletes participated in 17 disciplines.
Furthermore, the delegation that will participate in the Tokyo Paralympic Games will also take part in the largest number of sports in our country’s history, with the eight disciplines represented exceeding the seven in Rio 2016.
“It requires many things to be a good athlete. Talent, for one; and talent comes from above. But talent alone is not enough. Willpower is also needed, and willpower comes from the heart. Talent without willpower does not lead anywhere,” the President stated.
Chile will be represented in 73% of the sports that make up the Tokyo Olympic program and in 35% of the Paralympic program. This means that in the Americas only the United States, Canada, Brazil and Argentina will have delegations representing more sporting disciplines than Chile in Tokyo.
“I ask all our athletes to go with the support and hope of all Chileans, to lift up the name of Chile and to help us follow their example and transform the country into a nation of athletes,” the President concluded.