rogerfederer.com - Roger to lead Switzerland

Roger to lead Switzerland

One of the athletes of each country has the honour of carrying the national flag during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. This year it will be Roger to head the Swiss delegation into the stadium! After having marched in front of the nation’s group in Athens four years ago he will have the privilege to do so again on August 08 in Beijing – a fantastic birthday present for our champion!

“It is a true honour for me to lead the Swiss athletes into the stadium, carrying the Swiss flag. I have had the privilege to experience many wonderful things; the Olympics are and will always be one of the best. So I am really looking forward to those moments - of course also since this is one of the most wonderful birthday presents I could possibly wish for.

During my first Olympics in Sydney 2000 I had the opportunity to attend competitions in swimming and badminton. Those are great, lasting memories. Four years ago my schedule didn’t allow following any other tournaments. This year I would love to see some basketball-action with the American ‘Dream Team’.

I am certainly looking forward to these Games enormously in many different respects.”

So far 36 female and 48 male Swiss athletes have qualified for Beijing. They represent the following sports: tennis, athletics, shooting, fencing, cycling, mountainbiking, judo, swimming, sailing, triathlon, rowing, gymnastics, badminton, riding, canoeing, pentathlon, taekwondo, archery and beach volleyball. The Swiss won five medals at the Olympic Summer Games in Athens 2004 and nine in Sydney 2000. And of course we are hoping for a good result in China as well! The Olympic Stadium was, after all, designed by the Swiss star-architects Herzog & de Meuron.

PS: August 01 is the Swiss national holiday!