Romania at the Olympic Games in Rio

President Klaus Iohannis handed gymnast Catalina Ponor the Romanian flag, which she will carry at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Rio.

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România Internațional, 22.07.2016, 13:31

Throughout history, Romanian athletes have proven that they are capable of extraordinary achievements. Romania’s most resounding success is undoubtedly the moment when gymnast Nadia Comaneci obtained the first perfect 10 in history at the Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada, in 1976. Another Romanian sports legend is the charismatic tennis player Ilie Nastase, one of the best players in the world, who won the Grand Slam title at the US Open and Roland Garros.

Football player Gheorghe Hagi is another famous name in Romanian sports. He is joined by goal keeper Helmut Duckadam, known as the “hero in Seville”, who defended all penalty shots in the European Cup final of 1986, thus playing a decisive role in his team Steaua’s winning the title. With the Olympic Games due to start soon, expectations are again very high.

President Klaus Iohannis has met the athletes who will represent the country in Rio and this is what he told them: “You are the best and I encourage you to show it. Be yourselves! Live your dreams in Rio! And don’t forget for one moment that millions of Romanians are thinking of you and supporting you at home. I hope this edition of the Olympic Games will again remain for you and the history of Romanian sports a memorable experience. Dare write history!”

President Klaus Iohannis handed gymnast Catalina Ponor the Romanian flag, which she will carry at the opening ceremony of the Games. Ponor’s achievements, including her three Olympic gold medals in Athens in 2004 and a silver and bronze medal in London in 2012, are an example for the 98 athletes and 7 substitutes who will soon embark on their flight to Latin America. They will be competing in 15 disciplines, most of them in athletics and rowing. Some big names are missing, however, from the Romanian team, such as tennis player Simona Halep, no. 5 in the world, who pulled out of next month’s Olympics due to fears over the mosquito-borne Zika virus.

It is also for the first time since 1968 that Romania’s gymnastics team has failed to qualify for the Olympics. Many at home have seen this failure as a sign that Romanian sport is in decline. Sport is based on teamwork; sport brings people together and celebrates competition in the most beautiful and peaceful way; sport contributes to a healthy lifestyle and a harmonious physical and psychological development and promotes a culture based on respect, tolerance, fair-play and perseverance, said president Klaus Iohannis. If it wants to be truly competitive in the world and, more importantly, if it wants to have a nation of healthy people, Romania needs a new vision for sports. In this respect, expanding sports programmes in schools is a matter of urgency, president Klaus Iohannis concluded.

(Translated by Cristina Mateescu)