Tokyo: Many Olympic countries are expected to show their support for gender equality and racial justice on Friday night with their choice of athletes to carry a flag at the opening ceremony.
The International Olympic Committee changed its rules and asked every country to choose two flags in an effort to increase gender equality in the Tokyo game.
The gold medal Rower Mohamed Sbihi will be the first Muslim to bring the English flag in the match, with Sailor Hannah Mills.
“It’s really an honor to be invited to be a flag for the GB team,” said Sbihi.
“This is an iconic moment in the Olympic movement – people remember the pictures.” Aussies Cate Campbell and Patty Mills both attended their fourth Olympics.
Mills, a basketball playing for the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA, will be the first Australian indigenous chosen to carry a flag for the opening ceremony.
“This is an identity, it can show off who you are all over the world,” Mills said.
“It’s one of the things that makes you proud of who you are.
We will definitely come a long way for Australian sports and it’s special.” The USA team will be represented by Basketballer 4 Year Sue Bird and Baseballer Cuban-America Eddy Alvarez.
Alvarez, who also won a silver medal for Speedskating in the 2014 Winter Olympics, has expressed support for those in Cuba who have joined the recent protests of the country’s economic crisis.
“We feel for Cuban people now.
We are very proud of them because they go there to protest with stones, forks and brooms,” he said.
For the Netherlands, it will be a 36-year-old Dutch runner and Churandy Martina’s black athlete, from Curacao, and the Oldenbeuving Keet Skateboarder, 16.
They are the oldest and youngest members of the Dutch Olympic team.
In the case of Belgium, both will also represent the country’s linguistic split – Heptathlete Nafi Thiam, French speakers, and Hockey Players Felix Denayer, Dutch speaker.
“Really an honor!” Posted Black Sprinter Mujinga Kambundi with Swiss flag emoji on Instagram after he was chosen with Max Heinzer.
“When I start athletics as a child, going to the Olympics never sounds very realistic.
Today, I’m preparing for my third Olympics, and this honor makes a more special experience.”