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Mikita Tsmyh, Hanna Marusava named flag bearers for Team Belarus in Tokyo

Photo courtesy of Belarus' NOC

TOKYO, 23 July (BelTA) – Swimmer Mikita Tsmyh and archer Hanna Marusava will carry the flag for Team Belarus at the opening ceremony of the 32nd Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, BelTA learned from the press service of the National Olympic Committee.

The decision to have a male and a female flag bearer on each team at the opening ceremony was made by the International Olympic Committee's executive committee in March 2020 to ensure gender equality at the Olympics.

“High responsibility is felt before the opening of the Games. We were entrusted with an important mission. We will be the first of the Belarusian team to enter the stadium. Of course, it is a nice, honorable and responsible mission,” Mikita Tsmyh said. Hanna Marusava expressed her wish that the Belarusian flag would be hoisted at the Olympic venues in Tokyo as often as possible.

Mikita Tsmyh is an international master of sport, silver medalist of the 2015 European Games in Baku. He is the champion of Belarus in the 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke. Mikita Tsmyh participated in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Hanna Marusava (Karaseva) is also an international master of sport. She was a medalist at the World and European Championships, as well as the European Games in Baku and Minsk, and took part in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.

The Olympics opening ceremony will start at 14.00 and will be broadcast live on Belarus 1 and Belarus 5 TV channels. Prominent hammer thrower Ivan Tsikhan has been named captain of Team Belarus.

Belarus in Tokyo will be represented by 108 athletes who will compete for medals in 20 sports.

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