The first Ecuadorian woman to participate in the Winter Olympics, Sarah Escobar, had the honor of carrying her flag at the ceremony, escorted by the members of the delegation, doctor Pablo Sarmiento and her coaches Nicholas Stagers and Fabián Escobar. The president of the Ecuadorian Olympic Committee (COE), Jorge Delgado, lived the moment from the gallery.
The athlete born in the United States, but of Ecuadorian parents, filled an entire country with pride by flying the national tricolor for the second consecutive time in the Winter Olympics, after the participation of the pioneer Klaus Jungbluth in PyeongChang 2018.
Klaus, who could not qualify due to the limited number of events due to the coronavirus pandemic, also had the opportunity to be at the inauguration as coach of Colombian skier Carlos Quintana. It was a very emotional reunion both with the tricolor delegation and with her Sarah, as Klaus accompanied her on her debut in the national jersey at the Lausanne 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games.
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CEREMONY
Athletes from 91 national Olympic committees gathered at the stage known as the Bird’s Nest, which for this occasion dressed its grass in ice in a brilliant and colorful opening ceremony.
“One world, one family” (“One World, One Family”) has been the theme of the event, based on an old Chinese saying that says: “A really wise person sees the whole world as a family”. The music, songs, dance, innovative technology and fireworks featured Chinese citizens from Beijing and Hebei province, rather than stars, professional singers, dancers or actors.
Center stage at the venue featured an 11,600-meter HD LED screen, mimicking “the crystal clear surface of ice.” In addition, artificial intelligence was shown using technology of live motion.
For his part, the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, praised the athletes for their resilience and the inspiration they have offered to the world through sport.
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“We have come here after overcoming many challenges, living with a lot of uncertainty. But now our time has come: the moment we have been longing for; the moment we were all waiting for”. “We are with you, supporting you, encouraging you,” he said.
The torch relay culminated its journey with the lighting of the Olympic flame. On the last stretch inside the stadium, seven relievers carried six torches, thus representing Chinese winter sports athletes for six generations.
The final two bearers, Zhao Jiawen and Diniger Yilamujiang, both born in 2000, brought the show to an end with the lighting of the cauldron, set amidst a giant snowflake. This, in addition, had small snowflakes with the names of the 91 nations that participate in Pejín 2022.
Sarah will represent Ecuador in the giant slalom in alpine skiing on Monday, February 7, the first heat is scheduled for 10:15 China (21:15, Ecuadorian time on Sunday, February 6). Last season she achieved nine Top 20 finishes in FIS races. (D)
Source: Eluniverso
Paul is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment and general news. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established herself as a respected voice in the industry.
