PRESS RELEASE
Paris, France –World Women’s Triple Jump Champion Thea Lafond Gadson and 800-meter
runner Dennick Luke will be Dominica’s Flag bearer for the opening ceremony
of the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Opening Parade starts at 7:30 pm in France (1:30 pm Eastern Caribbean Time) on
Friday 26th July. The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will run from 26 July to 11 August 2024 in France, with some competitions starting on 24 July.
Thea Lafond Gadson, who hails from the community of Mahaut and is based in the USA, will be competing in the female Triple Jump. Mrs. Lafond-Gadson is Dominica’s first Indoor World Champion and has also qualified for two World Championships and Two World Indoor Championships. Dennick Luke, who hails from Portsmouth, is currently completing his tertiary education in Jamaica. Mr. Luke secured a universality placement in the discipline of 800m.
The Flag bearers will lead the Dominica delegation which will include swimmers Warren Lawrence and Jasmine Schofield, as well as team officials led by Chef de Mission Mr. Woodrow Lawrence, Team Leader, Brendan Wiliams, Athletics Coach Aaron Gadson; Swimming Coach, Gino Deflorian; Francilia Agar Schofield, Press Attaché, Garvin Richards and Physiotherapist, Kala Flagg.
For the first time in the history of the Olympic Summer Games, the Opening Ceremony will not take place in a stadium. Paris 2024 opening will take place along the Seine River.
The parade of athletes will be held on the Seine with boats for each national
delegation.
These boats will be equipped with cameras to allow television and online
viewers to see the athletes up close. The 10,500 athletes will cross through the centre of Paris, the overall playing field for the Games over the next 16 days.
The parade will come to the end of its 6-kilometer route in front of the Trocadéro, where the remaining elements of Olympic protocol and final shows will take place.