Paris, June 13 (PL).- The French federations of various sports will present their candidates for flag bearers for the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games, a responsibility with requirements that eliminate stellar athletes from the list.
The French National Olympic and Sports Committee will host the presentation, with names already known such as the discus throwing veteran Mélina Robert-Michon, participant in six games and with a silver medal in Rio de Janeiro-2016, the Olympic champion of volleyball in Tokyo Earvin N'Gapeth and award-winning swimmer Florent Manaudou.
Each federation had the possibility of selecting its two candidates, a man and a woman, although several did not do so, failing to comply with the strict conditions set.
To carry the French national flag at the opening of the Olympic Games, on July 26, or Paralympic Games, on August 28, athletes must already have participated under the five rings, have not previously been flag bearers and assume the exemplary nature of the values of olympism.
This de facto left out stars such as the three-time Olympic champion and judoka legend Teddy Riner, the standard bearer in Rio de Janeiro, and the double title holder (individual and mixed teams) in Tokyo, also judoka Clarisse Agbégnénou, who did so in the Japanese capital three years ago.
About twenty names are expected in the candidacy, on which the athletes must vote by electronic vote in the coming days.
The four designated to carry the flag on July 26 on the banks of the Seine and on August 28 in the Place de la Concorde will be informed on July 12.
According to specialist opinions, the favorites in the case of the Olympic Games are the discus thrower Robert-Michon and the swimmer Manadou, champion of London-2012 and in charge of lighting the Olympic flame in Marseille on May 8 upon their arrival on the ground. Gaul from Greece.