Taking your national delegation to the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games is a supreme honor. Sometimes even bigger than winning a medal. All Olympic athletes hope to one day be designated a flag bearer, but only a few become one during their career. With just over a hundred days until the Paris 2024 Olympics, discussions around this role are starting to flourish, and the lucky ones should soon be known.
In France, the debate rages. On Wednesday March 13, the Olympic and Paralympic committees confirmed the eligibility criteria for the flag bearers, who will be designated by their peers in mid-July, when the qualifications will be ratified. Exit the former flag bearers and athletes who have never participated in the Games. An “ethical” criterion will also be established with, perhaps, a clean criminal record required. Imperatives which exclude several stars like Teddy Riner, Kylian Mbappé, Clarisse Agbégnénou or Nikola Karabatic.
Sporting merit and fair play for Germany and Great Britain
But are these criteria the same in other national Olympic committees? Not far from here. Some delegations established very simple conditions, while others decided to provide a long and selective process in order to make the best possible choice. This is particularly the case for Germany, which will preselect a group of five men and five women meeting two criteria: sporting and Olympic merit, and fair play on and off the field. They must also come from different disciplines and their competition program must be compatible with the opening ceremony.
Several athletes have already announced their desire to take on this role. This is particularly the case of Alexander Zverev, Denis Schroeder and Angelique Kerber. “It would be indescribable for any athlete to enter with the German flag, and it is also one of my dreams,” the latter recently told Bild.
Great Britain will be attentive to the same criteria. It will be “the values of Team GB” that will make the difference, namely “pride, unity, respect, responsibility and, of course, excellence. » In 2021, Mohamed Sbihi (rowing) and Hannah Mills (sailing) were appointed, while Andy Murray had taken the delegation to Rio five years earlier.
Olympic gold for Italy and China
In Italy, the response will arrive much more quickly, from April 22. But the best tennis player in the world since the start of the season, winner in particular of the Australian Open and the Masters 1000 in Miami, Jannik Sinner, already knows that he will not get ahead of his compatriots on the Seine. Because the Italian Olympic Committee has a simple rule: the lucky ones must have won a gold medal at the Olympics.
“The world of sport appreciates the fact that there is an unwritten rule according to which whoever represents the country has won an Olympic gold medal,” recently justified Giovanni Malago, the president of the national committee. On the men’s side, high jumper Gianmarco Tamberi, who made his mark at the Tokyo Games by sharing his gold medal with Mutaz Barshim, holds the rope.
Since 2016, China has also made a habit of naming Olympic champions. Zhao Shuai and Zhu Ting, both titles in 2016, respectively in taekwondo and volleyball, were flag bearers in Tokyo, while fencer Lei Sheng was in Rio. Before that, basketball players had monopolized the attention, notably the star Yao Ming and his 2m29 who fascinated the NBA and the whole world.
Chosen by their peers, by the public or by the federation
In addition to the criteria, the designation methods vary between countries. When Germany lets the public and athletes vote starting in mid-July, the United States leaves fans no choice. Each member of Team USA can, however, vote, as was the case in 2021, when Sue Bird and Eddy Alvarez were chosen.
In other countries, it is the federation, and even its head of mission, which has the destiny of the athletes in their hands. In Australia, Nick Green, who held this position in view of the London Olympics, said: “I thought it would be simple, but this is going to be one of my most difficult tasks. » He finally designated the basketball player Lauren Jackson, then already a triple silver medalist at the Olympics. For the 2024 edition, the choice has not yet been made.
