By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, July 29: Sarawak-born national diver Bertrand Rhodict Lises was the ‘Jalur Gemilang’ flag-bearer for the Malaysian contingent at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.
The 19-year-old carried the flag alongside Johor-born sailor Nur Shazrin Mohamad Latif, representing Malaysia at the Parade of Nations, taking place aboard a variety of watercraft cruising down the River Seine, Paris, on July 26.
They travelled on the Seine, between the Austerlitz and the Iena bridges, before a grand finale at the Trocadero, with laser beams from the Eiffel Tower shining over the flotilla.
According to ASEAN Skylines on Facebook, it is the first time ever that the Olympics opening ceremony was held outside the confines of a stadium, in the heart of Paris, watched by some 300,000 people from the stands, bridges, riverbanks and their homes as the 205 nations took part in the athletes parade via 85 boats of various sizes along the six-kilometre stretch of the Seine.
The Malaysian contingent, represented by six athletes and four officials at the opening ceremony, were dressed in the golden-hued ‘Malaya’, a collection designed by Rizman Ruzaini.
The olive-green attire with golden motifs, featured Baju Kurung complete with a headscarf for female athletes and Baju Melayu Teluk Belanga for their male counterparts.
Bertrand is making his Olympics debut in Paris after becoming the first Malaysian athlete to qualify on merit in July 2023.
He is the fourth Sarawakian to be given the honour of carrying the flag at the prestigious international sporting event, following Kuda Ditta (Athletics in Rome 1960), Bryan Nickson Lomas (Aquatics — Diving in Athens 2004) and Dato’ Pandelela Rinong (Aquatics — Diving in London 2012). —DayakDaily
