Maroc - NEWSDAY.CO.TT - A la Une - 27/Jul 08:01

Let Olympic Games begin – TTO athletes stand ready to make history

TT’s Olympic delegation was not affected by the arson attacks which disrupted three-high speed railways to Paris, causing delays to more than a million travellers attending the opening ceremony parade of nations at River Seine in Paris on July 26. Despite an over one-hour delay before the start, partnered with intermittent showers, TT’s 33-member contingent sailed down the Seine patriotically dressed in red, black and white uniforms produced by The Hideout Clothing. The national flag was held up and waved by women’s sprinter and now four-time Olympian Michelle-Lee Ahye and swimmer Dylan Carter, now in his third stint at the Summer Games. TT Olympic Committee (TTOC) president Diane Henderson confirmed the delay along the rails did not hamper the TT delegation. "They are all okay, not affected," she responded via WhatsApp message. Joining them aboard the boat were three other nations – Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, Togo and Tonga. TT’s delegation were last on the boat. TT's team is made up of 17 athletes and 16 officials. Leading the athlete contingent are two-time Olympic javelin medallist Keshorn Walcott and Ahye, alongside medal favourites Jereem Richards (200m, 400m, 4x400m relay), Carter (swimming) and Nicholas Paul (cycling). [caption id="attachment_1098643" align="alignnone" width="596"] TT flag bearers Michelle-Lee Ahye, left, and Dylan Carter before the start of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony. PHOTOS COURTESY TEAM TT -[/caption] TT have won 19 Olympic medals in history – 15 in track field, three in weightlifting and one in swimming. The 2024 squad will be hoping to seal a podium place after a medal-less campaign in Tokyo three years ago. This was the first time in Olympic Games history the opening ceremony was held outside a stadium. As is customary, the parade of nations started with the Greek team to recognise its significance as the birthplace of the Olympics over 3,000 years ago and its role as the host of the first modern Olympics. Almost 30,000 spectators lined the Seine quayside to witness over 80 boats carrying Olympic delegations over a 6K distance, which started from Post d’Austerlitz and concluded at Post d’lena, at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. Also looking on was French President Emmanuel Macron and International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach among a host of other international dignitaries. There was also an array of singers and dancers from multiple genres along the route such as American Lady Gaga among hosts of others from France and around the world. Opera singers, dancers from the French Army, a makeshift runway atop one of the bridges and numerous ‘heart’ representations of the city of love (Paris) all featured France’s diversity in fashion, music, the arts and longstanding tradition. During the ceremony, the Olympic torch was taken through Paris on foot by a masked person who climbed on to roofs, jumped walls and even strolled through the Louvre, en route to the Eiffel Tower for the lighting of the Olympic cauldron to signal its official start. As the mask carrier approached, he handed the torch to legendary French footballer Zinedine Zidane, who then passed it to 16-time French Open winner Rafael Nadal (Spain). Nadal boarded a boat along the Seine, joined by the greatest female tennis player ever American Serena Williams and ten-time Olympic medallist Carl Lewis (long jump) as they sailed to the cauldron. During their journey, spectators enjoyed a spectacular light show from the Eiffel Tower. When they arrived at the base of the Olympic cauldron, the torch was passed to former French tennis player Amelie Mauresmo who ran for a distance with the torch and passed it to former standout French basketballer Tony Parker. [caption id="attachment_1098642" align="alignnone" width="669"] Sanaa and Sole Frederick pose in front of the Olympic rings in Paris. PHOTO FROM INSTAGRAM -[/caption] Parker and Mauresmo met three French para-athletes, and together, handed off the flame to multiple other legendary French sportsmen and women en route to the cauldron. Past stalwart French women such as Alice Milliat, Gisele Halimi, Louise Michel and Alice Guy were among several honoured with golden statutes along the Seine. There were also floating makeshift gardens with break dancers and other entertainers who kept the ceremony active during the delegation’s sail. Team TT will remain at the Olympic Village until the Games conclude. Seventeen-year-old swimmer Zuri Ferguson gets TT’s Olympic campaign under way in the women’s 100m backstroke preliminaries on July 29 from around 5 am (TT time). Team TT Athletics Michelle---Lee Ahye --- 100m & 4x100 relay Leah Bertrand---100m & 4x100 relay Sole Frederick--- 4x100 relay Akilah Lewis--- 4x100 relay Sanaa Frederick --- 4x100 relay (Reserve) Portious Warren--- Shot Put Keshorn Walcott--- Javelin Jereem Richards--- 200m, 400m & 4x400 relay Devin Augustine--- 100m Jaden Marchan--- 4x400 relay Shakeem Mc Kay--- 4x400 relay Renny Quow--- 4x400 relay Elijah Joseph--- 4x400 relay (Reserve) Cycling: Nicholas Paul Kwesi Browne Swimming: Dylan Carter --- 50m and 100m Freestyle Zuri Ferguson--- Backstroke 100m Administration: Chef de Mission ---Lovie Santana---Duke Social Media Personnel ---Melanie Gulston Medical Chief Medical Officer --- Rudranath Ramsawak Physiotherapist--- Verne Alleyne Physiotherapist ---Alban Merepeza Massage therapist--- Keisha Fraser Massage therapist ---Brent Elder Welfare Officer--- Maria Thomas Officials: Manager ---Dexter Voisin Coach ---Keston Bledman Coach--- Charles Joseph Coach --- Ismael Mastrapa Manager ---Rowena Williams Mechanic ---Elisha Greene Manager --- Tracy Montrichard---Carter Coach ---Dexter Browne   The post Let Olympic Games begin – TTO athletes stand ready to make history appeared first on Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.