Cyclist Charles Kagimu and swimmer Gloria Muzito will be leading the charge as Uganda’s flag bearers during the Paris 2024 Olympics opening ceremony this Friday, July 26, 2024.
The grand event will start at 8:30 pm EAT, and will usher in a new era for the Olympics with its groundbreaking outdoor ceremony along River Seine.
Gloria Muzito was the first Ugandan athlete to touch down for the games, having arrived in France on Sunday, while Charles Kagimu, landed in the country today, just in time to prepare for the ceremony and competition.
Together, they will carry the Ugandan flag down the Seine River, a breathtaking backdrop that will host the largest Olympic opening ceremony in history.
The Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony will be the first held outside a stadium, and will feature an outdoor parade, with athletes sailing along a six-kilometer stretch of the Seine, flanked by iconic landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower.
This innovative approach is part of the organisers’ motto “Games Wide Open,” and aims at showcasing unity and celebration.
Over 600,000 spectators will witness the event in person along the river’s banks while for those unable to secure tickets, 80 giant screens will be set up throughout Paris.
Muzito and Kagimu are both making their debuts at the Olympics.
Gloria Muzito will be representing the country in the 100 Freestyle category. She recently won a bronze medal at the 2023 African Games, setting a national record, and subsequently competed at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar.
Charles Kagimu, on the other hand, will complete in the Men’s Road Race. In 2023, he showcased his talent by winning the time trial at the African Road Championships in Accra, Ghana. He will be the first cyclist to represent the country at the Olympics in 40 years.
An estimated 1.5 billion viewers are expected to watch the ceremony live around the world. NBS Sport will broadcast the event live.
Joseph Kigozi, the General Manager of the station revealed the importance of the ceremony saying, “Expect coverage of the Olympics, especially the opening ceremony. The opening ceremony is very important because it typies the diverse culture of the countries that will participate in the Olympics.”
Team Uganda will be represented by 25 athletes competing in various disciplines, including 21 track and field athletes, two swimmers, one rower, and one cyclist.
