#WrestleParis

Paris Olympics: Five wrestlers to be country's flagbearers at opening ceremony

By United World Wrestling Press

PARIS (July 26) -- Five wrestlers will be the flag bearers of their respective nations at the opening ceremony at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Saturday.

The opening ceremony parade will take place in boats down the river Seine with Greece opening the parade followed by the Refugee Olympic Team and then the countries in alphabetic order. France, the host, will be the last in the parade. The United States and Australia, hosts for the next two Olympics, will come before France.

Albania's first world champion in wrestling Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) will be the flagbearer for his country. He will wrestle in the 57kg weight class.

For Puerto Rico, world silver medalist in 65kg Sebastian RIVERIA (PUR) will be the flagbearer alongside Jasmine Camacho-Quinn from Athletics.

Rckaela AQUINO (GUM)Rckaela AQUINO (GUM) of Guam. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Guam has given the responsibility to its first-ever female wrestler Rckaela AQUINO (GUM). She will be wrestling in the 57kg weight class.

Diamantino IUNA FAFE (GBS) will be the flagbearer for Guinee-Bissau at the opening ceremony. He wrestled in Tokyo at 57kg and will perform in Paris in the same weight class.

Honduras has given the responsibility to its first-ever Greco-Roman wrestler Kevin MEJIA (HON).

Wrestling begins on August 5 in Paris and ends on August 11.

#UnitedWorldWrestling

Lalovic re-elected as ASOIF Council member

By United World Wrestling Press

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (June 11) — United World Wrestling President Nenad LALOVIC was re-elected as the Council member of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) at its 49th General Assembly convened Wednesday in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Lalovic was among the three who secured four-year term with Jean-Christophe ROLLAND, President of World Rowing and Andreas ZAGKLIS, Secretary General of the International Basketball Federation. Ximena Restrepo, Senior Vice President of World Athletics was elected for a two-year term.

ASOIF

The ASOIF General Assembly began with addresses from International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas BACH and IOC President-Elect Kirsty COVENTRY. Bach thanked the Summer Olympic International Federations (IFs) for their important contributions over the last years in making the Olympic Games more modern, younger and sustainable, as highlighted at its best at Paris 2024.

Coventry stressed the importance of working closely with the IFs to deliver the best Olympic Games for the athletes and build a better world through sport. She explained how both priorities are closely connected with Olympic athletes inspiring the next generation.