The Brazil Olympic Delegation witnessed their national flag rising in the Olympic Village of Beijing Games on Monday. Chef de Mission Marcus Vinicius Freire hoped the Brazil's biggest-ever delegation could become the best one ever.
Freire said after the flag-raising ceremony, "It is the largest Brazil delegation in the history of modern Olympic Games, with 277 athletes and 469 members in total. The number of female players is also the biggest in history. After August 8, I hope this biggest delegation can become the most successful one."
Braizil won five gold, two silver and three bronze medals at 2004 Athens Games. However, talking about the expectation for the Beijing Games, Freire kept a low profile,"We don't have any medal targets. I think our target is just the number to qualify for the Olympics. After four years of wonderful preparation, our athletes are in good shape. I hope we will be the best."
It is the third consecutive time that Freire heads the Brazilian Olympic Delegation. As a former volleyball player,Freire won the silver medal in the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
"It is the best Olympic Village I have seen. Big restaurant with all kinds of food and beautiful apartments, they (BOCOG) did a wonderful job in the past seven years," Freire added.
(Xinhua News Agency August 4, 2008)