#WrestleParis

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

Friday, July 26, 2024 - 17:48 By United World Wrestling Press

Share this article

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.

Russia, Belarus wrestlers to compete under UWW flag

Friday, February 21, 2025 - 03:02 By United World Wrestling Press

Share this article

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (February 21) -- All eligible wrestlers from Russia and Belarus will now compete under United World Wrestling flag.

The UWW Bureau, which met on February 5, gave a green signal for wrestlers who previously competed under neutral flag as Individual Neutral Athletes, to compete under UWW Flag effective immediately. This also includes the staff of the two countries.

However, UWW will continue with UWW anthem for ceremonies with no reference to the flag, symbols, or coat of arms of Russia and Belarus will be authorized.

Furthermore, no team ranking will be considered of these two countries at any championships.

This is the third major update for eligibility of wrestlers from Russia and Belarus. UWW had announced the first set of eligibility criteria for Russia and Belarus wrestlers in 2023. The criteria was further revised in 2024 to state that only evidence of direct military participation in the war against Ukraine or public declarations [in written or orally] in support of the war and/or of their promoters or participants will be considered to declare an athlete as ineligible.