PARIS (TVBS News) — Taiwan's B-boy Sun Chen (孫振) and badminton ace Tai Tzu-ying (戴資穎) will serve as flag bearers during the Olympic Games Paris 2024 opening ceremony on Friday (July 26) at 7:30 p.m. The event will mark a historic first as athletes parade on the Seine aboard 85 boats.
Speaking to the Central News Agency (CNA, 中央社), Sun shared that he finds the ceremony on the river intriguing and vows to fulfill his role as flag bearer. However, he humorously added, "I hope I don't have to hold the flag for the entire 6 kilometers, or my arm might fall off."
Athletes will embark from the Pont d'Austerlitz and disembark at the Pont d'Iéna, covering a 6-kilometer journey. After disembarking, they will circle the Jardins du Trocadéro near the Eiffel Tower for the subsequent performances.
The opening ceremony will feature various Taiwanese athletes, including swimmer Wang Kuan-hung (王冠閎), boxer Lin Yu-ting (林郁婷), table tennis godfather Chuang Chih-yuan (莊智淵), and renowned tennis player Hsieh Su-wei (謝淑薇), among others. A total of 39 members, including coaches, will participate.
The Chinese Taipei (中華代表團) team will depart on the 74th boat, sharing it with athletes from Tajikistan, Tanzania, and Chad. Following the opening ceremony, the games will commence on July 27, with Taiwan's "Judo Heartthrob" Yang Yung-wei (楊勇緯) competing in the men's 60kg judo event, aiming to secure Taiwan's first medal.
