Honour and Pride / IJF.org

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Honour and Pride

Jul 25, 2024

by: Nicolas Messner

In just over 24 hours, the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will open. In the meantime, there is one more celebration that everyone is eagerly awaiting. Which athletes will carry their national flags during the opening ceremony? This answer is far from anecdotal. Being the flag bearer for their country is for each of the lucky ones a moment that will remain forever etched in their memory. It is having the chance to carry the hopes of hundreds of compatriot athletes and millions of supporters at home on your shoulders. It is celebrating the unity of humanity in the richness of each person's differences.

Some names are already known. Some athletes were designated by their National Olympic Committee, some were elected by their peers. For some the choice was obvious while for others it was a surprise.

By tomorrow evening, we will know the final list but we can already be proud of the named representatives of judo. So far, 37 flag bearers who will compete in the judo event are known. They represent 29% of the countries participating in our sport. Men have 58% of these special roles and women 42%.