Following the press conference held at the Hemasiri Fernando Auditorium on July 8, 2024, the anticipation and excitement for Sri Lanka's participation in the Paris Olympics have reached new heights. Among those present were esteemed Sri Lankan team members Tharushi Karunarathne, Nadeesha Lekamge, Aruna Darshana, Ganga Senavirathne and Kyle Abeysinghe, joined by officials, media representatives, and enthusiastic sports fans.
The opening remarks at the start of the press conference highlighted the significance of Paris 2024, providing attendees with a comprehensive overview. Paris 2024 will be the biggest sports event in the French capital this year. The Olympic Games in Paris 2024 occurred exactly 100 years after Paris hosted the Olympics in 1924. Paris will join London as the only cities to host the Olympics three times. The Games were in Paris in 1900, 1924 and now in 2024. 10,500 Athletes are participating and 329 events in 32 sports will be happening in the summer Olympics. Paris will host both the Para and Winter Olympics too.
Mr. Suresh Subramaniam, President of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka, set the tone with a heartfelt welcome, emphasizing the significance of this milestone for Sri Lankan sports by highlighting the circumstances of last year in Tokyo 2020 due to Covid 19. He mentioned that although the number of competitors is reduced when compared with last year, which was nine, it is a notable improvement as four players had direct qualification while only two players got universality spots whereas in 2020 six out of nine players got selected through a wild card.
Following Mr. Subramaniam's address, Ms. Olivia Beliemere, Cultural and Cooperation Officer at the Embassy of France to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, addressed the audience, sharing insights into Paris and France's preparations for the Olympic festival. She highlighted their unique approach as an open, successful, and confident country, treating the Olympics as a global spectacle. France's focus includes providing iconic experiences rooted in French culture and science. They anticipate welcoming 16 million visitors, over 200 delegations, 45,000 volunteers, and 10,000+ athletes participating in more than 800 planned competitions—329 in the Olympics and others in Mixed events. Ms. Beliemere outlined France's seven key objectives for the Games, emphasizing iconic venues and celebrations, sustainability initiatives to neutralize carbon footprints, commitment to integration, equal participation of men and women, and ensuring universal accessibility, including volunteers with disabilities. She expressed France's dedication to organizing flawless games and concluded by extending best wishes to Sri Lankan athletes.
Subsequently, a comprehensive and detailed introduction video for Paris 2024, Sri Lankan athletes was presented, providing attendees with an in-depth look into the athletes participating in the upcoming Olympics.
The event's esteemed guest, Prof. Shemal Fernando, Director General of the Department of Sport Development, delivered a speech in which he shared his thoughts, stating how valuable it is to be an Olympian, How hard they need to work and how it affects a person's life. He also highlighted the importance of education and academic pursuits in the life of a sportsman. Prof. Fernando expressed gratitude to all attendees for their support and recognition of the efforts of the National Olympic Committee. Additionally, he commended France for their decision to host the Opening Ceremony on the Seine; the river that crosses the center of Paris, marking a historic return after 128 years.
Mr.Chandana Liyanage, Chef-de-Mission for Team Sri Lanka at Paris 2024, then conducted the team introduction, offering insights into their mission and objectives, highlighting their commitment to excellence and national pride. He stated about the athlete count and direct qualifications, also acknowledging the sponsors and partners of the event—LOVI Ceylon, MAS, and MoraSpirit—and expressing gratitude for their support. Mr. Liyanage announced that the Team Sri Lanka contingent consists of 15 delegates: 6 athletes, 8 officials and a chef-de-mission. He reassured attendees that the team's needs and safety would be meticulously handled, mentioning that the Paris Olympic Village is safe and up to the standards with no concerns.
Following that, the official opening ceremony attire for Team Sri Lanka, designed by Lovi Ceylon, was unveiled and presented to the public and media.
In closing remarks, Mr Maxwell de Silva, Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka, concluded the special event by thanking all the sponsors for their support. He specially conveyed his gratitude to all the players and their coaches. He talked about the importance of fighting through and overcoming all the obstacles.
A press briefing Q&A session followed the closing remarks. In the Q&A, journalists inquired about the flag bearers for the Olympics, which were announced as Viren Nettasinghe and Nadeesha Lekamge. They furthermore questioned investments in sports and spending on player development. Moreover, It was highlighted that Sri Lanka is not eligible for Universality Spots for Asia with a higher number of participants in 2020 and 2016. In response to journalists' questions about player travel and safety, officials clarified that players would depart in batches rather than as a whole group, due to varying starting dates. They specified that badminton and swimming players would leave early for practices, while athletic players would depart later for the opening ceremony. All coaches would accompany the players. Officials emphasized a new rule requiring players to return to their home country within two days of concluding their events. Stressing discipline, officials highlighted past challenges and urged players to adhere to guidelines. The National Olympic Committee assured thorough logistical arrangements and coverage of expenses, except for additional luggage services.
Following that, the attendees gathered for a memorable group photo, marking the conclusion of the event.
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