It is one of the most important and honored roles in the opening ceremony: carrying the national flag on the way into the stadium.
But how do you prepare if you are the athlete handed the responsibility? You can’t — or at least, Belgium’s Hanne Desmet has not, anyway. Here’s what she said on the subject:
💬 “I haven’t done any specific exercises for it. I’ll go with my instincts, that’s the best way.
“I don’t know how heavy the flag is, I haven’t even seen it, so I don’t really know what’s waiting for me.
“I’m a bit nervous I’m going to be sore in my arms tomorrow.”