This Tuesday, August 2, Cuba’s national flag will be raised in the Olympic Village in Río de Janeiro, where a large part of the Cuban delegation set to compete in the event in Brazil, the second Latin American country to host the Games since Mexico 1968, are already based.
According to Granma correspondent Roberto Ramírez reporting from Río, Janeth Arcain, city mayor, former basketball player and double Olympic medalist in Atlanta 96’ (sliver) and Sydney 2000 (bronze) is scheduled to participate in the welcome ceremony, where she will make a speech and meet members of the Cuban squad.
This Tuesday, the island’s free-style and Greco-Roman wrestling teams, which include the country’ standard bearer Mijaín López, double Olympic gold medalist and Las Vegas 2015 World Champion, Ismael Borrero, two of the delegation’s top medal hopefuls, will begin their stay in the Village.
Later the group will be joined by Cuban Judo competitors and Taekwondo fighter Rafael Alba, currently in San Salvador de Bahía where they are undergoing their final stage of training before the competition.
Cuba’s judokas will be in action beginning August 6, when Dayaris Mestre (48 kilograms), Asley González (90 kg- Wednesday 10) and Idalis Ortiz (+78 kg- Friday 12) will be competing. For his part, Rafael Alba, Puebla 2013 World Champion will be one of the last to compete, on Saturday 20, the penultimate day of the Games.
According to JIT, several of the island’s athletics representatives – based in Fortaleza and Havana – have yet to arrive at the Village.
The Games will kick-off tomorrow, August 3 with women’s soccer matches: Sweden vs. South Africa and Brazil vs. China. Cuba’s debut will be on Friday 5th with Adrián Puentes in the archery competition.
But today, August 2, the Cuban flag will fly in Río de Janeiro, the very same that will make its triumphant entrance during the opening ceremony of the 2016 Olympic Games at the legendary Maracaná Stadium.
