Athletes from the Philippines, Poland’s and Puerto Rico’s delegations sail in a boat along the river Seine near the Pont Royal during the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics 2024 on July 26, 2024. SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP
Team Philippines made its first appearance early Saturday morning (Manila time) in the 2024 Paris Olympics, whose opening ceremony was a first of its kind.
The ceremony, along with the traditional parade of nations, took place on the River Seine, with delegations from different countries sailing in front of officials that included French president Emmanuel Macron and International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach—and thousands of fans who line the banks.
The Philippines sailed in at the 148th position, with boxers Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio, silver medalists in the last Olympiad hosted by Tokyo, carrying the Filipino flag.
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The team was introduced at 3:29 a.m. early Saturday morning, Manila time.
The delegation was cheered by Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino and other officials, who patiently waited in a special section on one side of the banks along with other officials.
Team Philippines is represented by 22 athletes in Paris, including gold medal hopes Carlos Yulo, a two-time gymnastics world champion, and world No. 2 pole vaulter EJ Obiena.
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But for the opening ceremony, Team Philippines was represented by 10 athletes and five officials.
The order of entrance, which was interspersed with entertainment numbers and cultural performances including a Cabaret-flavored song-and-dance by Lady Gaga, was in alphabetical order based on the French language.
The only countries that broke the alphabet order were Greece, which traditionally enters first because it is the birthplace of the Olympics, future hosts Australia (2032) and United States (2028) and host France. The Aussies, Americans and French were the last three delegations to make way through the Seine in that order.
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