COB plans largest Brazilian delegation in history in Paris-2024

Almost two years before the start of the Paris-2024 Olympic Games, the COB (Olympic Committee of Brazil) plans to have the largest Brazilian delegation in the history of the event. A number greater than the 302 athletes who went to Tokyo-2020.

“It depends on the classification, of course. But there will be more than 302, for sure. Three hundred and something”, said the president of the COB, Paulo Wanderley.

This Tuesday (26), the entity presented details of the country’s logistics for the next Olympics, which will take place between July 24 and August 11, 2024. Thanks to the postponement of the Tokyo Games from 2020 to 2021, due to the Covid-19, the preparation for Paris will be the shortest Olympic cycle in history.

There is also the optimism of the managers with the prospect of medals thanks to the improvement of the results in some modalities.

“We have new sports that are medal candidates, like archery, for example,” added Wanderley.

He makes reference to the bronze medal won by the duo formed by Marcus D’Almeida and Ana Luiza Caetano last weekend, in the fourth stage of the Archery World Cup, in Medellín, Colombia.

In Tokyo, Brazil had its best performance in the history of the Games. He finished 12th in the overall table with 21 medals. There were seven gold, six silver and eight bronze.

At the event held in São Paulo, the COB gave details on how its base in Saint-Ouen, on the outskirts of Paris, 600 meters from the Olympic Village will work. The committee’s choice of location was revealed by the Sheet in March this year. For the partnership with the municipality and the use of the facilities, the entity will pay R$ 1.25 million.

Saint-Ouen will be the main, but not the only Brazilian base for the Games. Marseille, also in France, will be used, as will Rio Maior in Portugal. The COB already has a partnership since July 2020 with the Portuguese city, which will be able to receive athletes from swimming, athletics, triathlon, volleyball, handball and boxing, among other sports, during the preparation.

The men’s volleyball team is heading to Saint-Ouen next month to test facilities and equipment.

Without the specter of Covid-19 hovering over the competition, the COB also intends to resurrect the Olympic Experience program, which takes young athletes, considered with potential for the future, to experience the atmosphere of the Olympic Village and the atmosphere of the Games. In Tokyo, because of restrictions imposed by the pandemic, the project was suspended.

In past editions, names that would later win Olympic medals, such as Rebeca Andrade, Isaquias Queiroz, Martine Grael and Thiago Braz were part of the program. The COB’s idea is to take 20 athletes —10 men and 10 women— to the Olympic Experience in Paris.

The committee’s plan is also to have former Olympic medalists accompany the delegation in France. They would give lectures and offer advice to athletes who will compete in competitions.

The announcement comes days after the Paris-2024 Organizing Committee released the calendar of events and ticket prices – prices will range from 24 euros (R$130) to 950 euros (R$5,100). As in previous editions, the football tournament will start two days before the official opening.