Swimmer Fernando Scheffer and tennis player Luisa Stefani, both Olympic medalists in Tokyo, will be the flag bearers of the Brazilian delegation at the opening of the Pan American Games in Santiago. The pair was announced this Wednesday (18) by the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB). The ceremony that opens the Pan will begin at 8:30 pm (Brasília time) on Friday (20), at the Chilean National Stadium. The continental competition will distribute 100 direct places in 21 disciplines at the Paris Olympics next year. The Pan American Games will be broadcast live on the Brazilian Olympic Channel starting at 1:40 am (Brazilian time) this Thursday (19).
Through her Instagram account, Stefani said she was honored with 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 doubles, taking bronze in Tokyo, alongside fellow countrywoman Laura Pigossi.
Born in Canoas (RS), Scheffer also used social media to express his excitement at being at the head of the national delegation at the opening of the Pan. Olympic bronze in the 200 meter freestyle in Tokyo, the gaucho collected two golds and a silver in the latest edition of the Pan in Lima.
Team Brazil has the largest team in Brazil's history abroad: there are a total of 622 athletes and 11 reserves, in addition to 1020 members – members of technical committees, confederation officials and the COB itself).
“Fernando and Luisa are great national sports athletes, who made history at the Tokyo Olympic Games with exciting medals. Therefore, for the Brazilian Olympic Committee it is a joy 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 1000 members of our delegation very well”, said Rogério Sampaio, general director of the COB and head of the Brazilian mission in Santiago.
Brazil debuts in baseball and boxing this Thursday (19)
Even before the official opening of the Pan, there are already competitions underway. This is the case of baseball, whose competition began this Wednesday (18). The Brazilian team plays its first game against Venezuela, at 3pm this Thursday (19).
Brazilian boxing, with its eye on Olympic places, debuts at 11 am this Thursday (19) with Luiz Oliveira Bolinha (57 kilo category) who will face Canadian Victor Trembley.
Boxing is the individual discipline at the Pan Games that distributes the most Olympic places for Paris 2024: there are 30 in total. In the men's category, the gold and silver medalists in all categories (51 kg, 57 kg, 63.5 kg, 71 kg, 80 kg, -92 kg and +92 kg) ensure their presence at the Olympics next year. In the women's category, except for the 57 kg and 60 kg – which classify the first four placed – the places will be allocated to the champions and runners-up (50 kg, 54 kg and 75 kg).
