Swimmer Fernando Scheffer and tennis player Luisa Stefani, both Olympic medalists in Tokyo, will be the Brazilian delegation's flag bearers at the opening of the Pan American Games in Santiago. The pair were announced on Wednesday (18) by the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB). The opening ceremony of the Pan American Games will begin at 8:30 p.m. (Brasília time) on Friday (20) at the Chilean National Stadium. The continental competition will award 100 direct places in 21 sports at the Paris Olympics next year. The Pan American Games will be broadcast live on Brazil's Olympic Channel from 1:40 a.m. (Brazilian time) on Thursday (19).
Through her Instagram account, Stefani said she was honored to have the opportunity to carry the national symbol at the opening of the Pan. The São Paulo native won an unprecedented medal for the country in the doubles, taking bronze in Tokyo alongside fellow countrywoman Laura Pigossi.
A native of Canoas (RS), Scheffer also used social media to express his excitement at leading the national delegation at the opening of the Pan. Olympic bronze medalist in the 200-meter freestyle in Tokyo, the native of Rio Grande do Sul has two golds and a silver in the last edition of the Pan in Lima.
Team Brazil has the largest team in Brazil's history abroad: there are 622 athletes in total and 11 reserves, as well as 1020 members - members of technical commissions, confederation officials and the COB itself).
"Fernando and Luisa are great national athletes, who made history at the Tokyo Olympic Games with exciting medals. The Brazilian Olympic Committee is therefore delighted to be able to honor them with the honor of carrying our flag at the opening of the Pan American Games in Santiago. I am sure that they will represent the more than 600 athletes and 1,000 members of our delegation very well," said Rogério Sampaio, director general of the BOC and head of the Brazilian mission in Santiago.
Brazil debuts in baseball and boxing on Thursday (19)
Even before the official opening of the Pan American Games, competitions are already underway. This is the case with baseball, which began on Wednesday (18). The Brazilian team plays its first game against Venezuela at 3pm on Thursday (19).
The Brazilian boxing team, with an eye on the Olympic spots, will make its debut at 11 a.m. on Thursday (19) with Luiz Oliveira Bolinha (57 kilos category), who will face Canada's Victor Trembley.
Boxing is the individual sport at the Pan Games that has the most Olympic berths for Paris 2024: 30 in all. In men's boxing, gold and silver medalists in all categories (51 kg, 57 kg, 63.5 kg, 71 kg, 80 kg, -92 kg and +92 kg) are guaranteed a place at the Olympics next year. In the women's category, with the exception of 57 kg and 60 kg - where the top four finishers qualify - the places will go to the champions and runners-up (50 kg, 54 kg and 75 kg).
