Dylan Carter, Michelle-Lee Ahye named flag bearers for Team TTO at Paris opening

TRINIDAD and Tobago’s Olympic delegation joins over 10,000 other sportsmen and women, and officials, on a historic sail down Paris’ River Seine for the first-ever outdoor hosting of an Olympic opening ceremony.

The ceremony begins at 12.30pm (TT time) from Pont d’Austerlitz and will see 94 boats carrying 206 delegations from each participating nation.

They follow a 6km route through the heart of Paris passing iconic landmarks like Notre Dame, the Louvre, the Grand Palais and the Invalides before finishing at the Pont d’lena, at the foot of the Eiffel Tower.

Seasoned women’s sprinter Michelle-Lee Ahye, who will rep TT for the fourth time on this stage, and ace swimmer Dylan Carter, lead TT’s 33-member (17 athletes, 16 officials) delegation as flag bearers for the opening ceremony.

TT will be represented in three sports: athletics, cycling and swimming. The track and field team is made up of 13 athletes while cycling and swimming have two each.

A statement from the TT Olympic Committee (TTOC) on July 25 said Ahye’s “remarkable journey is a testament to her unwavering commitment and relentless pursuit of excellence.

“She continues to inspire both young and seasoned athletes alike. As a seasoned Olympian, Michelle’s experience and leadership will undoubtedly serve as a beacon of inspiration for our entire delegation.”

Carter, who flies the red, white and black for the third time at the Olympic level, was also given shared responsibility as flag bearer.

The statement added, “Dylan’s dedication to his sport and his country has been evident throughout his career, marked by his remarkable performances in the pool. His journey from a promising young swimmer to an Olympian has been nothing short of extraordinary.

“Dylan’s commitment to excellence and his passion for swimming make him a perfect ambassador for our nation at the 2024 Summer Olympics.”

At the opening ceremony, 80 giant screens will be set up on the Seine quayside for some 300,000 spectators. Over a billion people are expected to watch the show on television.

Speaking at the launch of the Venture Credit Union 5k on July 24, National Administration of Athletics Administrations (NAAATT) president George Comissiong was asked about the recent performances and fitness of medal hopefuls Jereem Richards (200m, 400m, 4x400m relay) and two-time Olympic medallist Keshorn Walcott (javelin).

In his final pre-Olympic meet one week ago, Richards ran a personal best time of 44.18s to earn bronze at the Diamond League in London.

Walcott, on the other hand, returned from a ten-month injury in June, and is in good shape ahead of the quadrennial games.

On Richards, Comissiong said, “I’m happy to see that his times have been falling because it suggests that he’s on the right trajectory and that he should be, all things being equal, in top shape for the actual competition.”

Richards qualified for three events but may not compete in all to ensure he remains in his best shape ahead of those he wishes to contest.

On Richards’ options, Comissiong added, “It says a lot about the athletes’ talent. It’s a good place to be when he has that kind of choice. I want to hope he makes the best decision in the end.”

He was also pleased to see Walcott return to action in the top flight and possibly seal another podium performance for TT. This will be Walcott’s fourth consecutive Olympics and more than likely his last.

“I’m happy to see that Keshorn is in good form it was a disappointing year last year. He has recovered quite nicely. The demonstration at the National Champs (85.22m) in June showed he is in good condition and looking well. The optimism is there that he will perform well,” Comissiong added.

Both Jereem and Walcott are expected to join the team in Paris on July 26 to complete the nation’s contingent at the Games.

Additionally, the remainder of TT’s track and field team concluded their Pan American sport sports camp in Mulhouse and was also expected to arrive at the Olympic Village in July 25 for the opening ceremony.

Team TTO 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 5am (TT time).