In a ceremony that took place in the birthplace of the liberator Simón Bolívar, the president of the VOC María Sotobeside IND President Ninoska Clocier and Sports Minister Mervin Maldonado accompanied by athletes, leaders, federations, national press carried out the act of flagging the athletes Elvismar Rodríguez (Judo) and Yohandri Granado (Taekwondo) who will be in charge of carrying the banner at the opening ceremony of the Bolivarian Games Valledupar 2022, which begin on June 24 and the closing ceremony is scheduled for July 5 of this year.
In the same way, said act served to formally hand over the flag to the flag-bearing athlete of the World Games Birmingham – Alabama 2022 from July 7 to 17, 2022, responsibility that the athlete Querys Pérez of the Sumo sports discipline will have.
María Soto, president of the national Olympic entity, highlighted “It is the first sports event of the Olympic cycle, we are going with more than 500 athletes, an event that is carried out in the name of the liberated Simón Bolívar, and today what better place to carry out this act than in his birthplace, we are very happy to be able to carry out this such a significant act in this historic house for our country and all the countries liberated by Simón Bolívar”he indicated.
For his part the sports minister highlighted “Once again we carry out a flag ceremony now in the first appointment of the five previous to Paris 2024, we have guaranteed all the logistics and attention to our athletes, so that they go calmly and concentrated to focus on their competitions “Maldonado said.
Elvismar Rodríguez Judo athlete in the -73 kilogram category, is the lady in charge of carrying the national flag, Rodríguez stood out for being a medalist in the Lima 2019 Pan American eventin addition to having achieved the classification to the JJOO Tokio 2020, He currently ranks 13th in the world ranking.
“I am grateful and I trust that we will do a good job in Colombia, I tell you that as soon as I found out it made me a little nervous but I know that with the preparation we have and the friction obtained we will bring good results, I will carry this flag responsibly and ethically, thank you Venezuela for this new opportunity”said Elvismar.
For his part, the gentleman in charge of parading with the national tricolor along with Elvismar Rodríguez is the taekwondo athlete Yohandri Granado -58 kilograms, Pomegranate number 10 in the world ranking, he has had a 2022 with two first places, one in the Pan American Championship in Punta Cana, the other in the Open G2 in Havana – Cuba, in addition to a second place in the Open G2 held in the Dominican Republic .
“Taekwondo returns to the fore again, I am proud to be in charge of carrying the national flag in these games, I thank the executive, the Venezuelan people and all those who have given me this responsibility, I feel prepared and ready to give it a good performance to my country”highlighted Pomegranate.
This sports event will have as its main venue the city of Valledupar and as sub venues, the cities of Bdrips, Cali and Chimichathe opening ceremony will be on June 24 in Valledupar.
Venezuela will attend so far with a delegation of 802 people, where 566 are athletes.
