Paris Olympics: China table tennis star Ma Long, swimmer Feng Yu to be flag bearers
- Pair chosen in recognition of their longevity and as inspiration to country’s rising stars, official says
China said table tennis star Ma Long and artistic swimming team captain Feng Yu would carry the country’s flag at the opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics on Friday.
Zhang Xin, the secretary-general of the Chinese Olympic delegation, said the pair’s selection demonstrated a “recognition of veteran athletes and an encouragement to the rising stars”.
The Chinese Olympic Committee confirmed the appointments in a post of social media platform Weibo. The opening ceremony, which will take place on the River Seine, starts at 1.30am on Saturday, Hong Kong time.
Ma is a five-time Olympic gold medallist and is widely recognised as one of the sport’s greatest players, while Feng won silver at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
In discussing the reasoning behind the decision, Zhang said Ma reflected the “persistence” needed to be an Olympic athlete for that long, while Feng had led her team to a series of excellent results on the world stage.
“For Feng Yu to be the flag bearer of the opening ceremony, it is not only a recognition of the sport’s development, it is also an encouragement for the growth and improvement of young athletes.”
