Jul 26, 2024
Friday, July 26, 2024 – Paris, France
Team Guam has officially designated Rckaela Aquino and Joseph Green as the flag bearers for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games’ opening ceremony. President Ricardo Blas of the Guam National Olympic Committee made this decision in accordance with the International Olympic Committee’s requirement that each gender be represented in carrying the flag.
Rckaela Aquino, attending her second Olympic Games, secured her spot through the Africa-Oceania Olympic wrestling qualifier—making her the first Guam athlete to qualify for consecutive Olympic Games based on merit. Meanwhile, Athletics sprinter Joseph Green, the sole male athlete representing Team Guam in Paris, will share the prestigious honor of flag-bearing alongside Aquino during the grand opening.
Excitement is building as the team prepares for the unique Paris 2024 Olympic Games. This edition will feature a novel twist: the opening ceremony will take each delegation on a boat ride along the River Sienne, a first in Olympic history. Joining our flag bearers are other remarkable athletes, including Mia Lahnee Aquino (wrestling) who also qualified through merit via the Africa-Olympic qualifier, Professional Triathlete Manami Iijima who qualified through the Oceania Continental quota, Judoka Maria Escano, Canoeist Raina Taitingfong, Weightlifter Nicola Lagatao, and veteran sprinter Regine Tugade, competing in her third Olympic Games.
Borja, in his inaugural campaign as the team’s Chef de Mission, confirmed both nominations and expressed enthusiasm about the team’s preparation and the chance to connect with Olympians from around the world at the Olympic Village.