Presentation of Romanian delegation to the Olympics 2012

Thursday evening was the presentation ceremony of the Romanian delegation at the Summer Olympics in London at the Romanian Olympic Committee.

The event was attended by the Acting President Crin Antonescu, the former tennis player Ion Tiriac, vicar of Bucharest, the personal delegate of Patriarch Daniel, the ambassador of Great Britain, COSR president Octavian Morariu and several presidents of federations.

The interim president Crin Antonescu addressed the athletes present, congratulating them for their performance to reach the Olympics.

"It's a privilege to be with you. It's a very special emotion. I had the privilege of being Minister of Sports and to know sports world and I know that there is no greater honor for an athlete than to represent his country and to show his value at the Olympics.

"I congratulate you because you have already won the honor to represent this country, to be on this Everest of the sport, represented by the Olympics. By your sacrifice you are an elite and Romania needs all elites. You always do your duty and I thank you. In a country where it is difficult to stick together, you are the only ones who briefly united us, "Crin Antonescu said.

Tennis player Horia Tecău is Romania’s flagship at the Olympics 2012

Antonescu handed then the national flag of Romania to flag bearer at the Olympics to tennis player Horia Tecau.

Horia Tecău declared it "is a special honor to carry the flag of Romania."

"I am very happy to participate at the Olympic Games in London. And being the flagship of Romania is a special honor. All athletes of our country have worked hard to get here. For me it is a joy to meet all these champions'' said Horia Tecau.

The tennis player, three times Wimbledon finalist and winner of a Grand Slam title in mixed doubles, noted that "many great tennis players in the world will represent their country at the Olympics opening ceremony in London''.

Women's gymnastics coach lot, Mariana Bitang, present at the ceremony showed that'' athletes and technicians of all disciplines want special performances at the Olympics in London. We want, obviously, medals also from gymnastics. Now, it doesn’t matter how many they will be, who will get them, only God knows that. You have to support the Romanian sports, along with Olympians tricolors.

The president of the National Authority for Sports and Youth , Carmen Tocală, said she will be present at the Olympic Games in London and mentioned regarding the awarding of athletes that “the government decision is ready, it remains to pass only the amount, we will communicate at the end of the Olympics, we have already announced the Ministry of Finance''.

The fencer Rares Dumitrescu said that “everyone dreams of gold medals. I hope to get back to London having a gold medal around our neck. We prepared for a long time and now we want to deliver on our work.''

Men's fencing coach, Mihai Covaliu, said that "it was a very beautiful ceremony, exciting, of presenting the Romanian Olympic delegation. As the fencing men, we want to return with our heads up from the Summer Olympics ofLondon''.

The first Romanian athletes who will travel to London will be the gymnasts who are leaving on Saturday, most of the delegation being supposed to leave to UK on Monday, July 23.

Radio Romania Actualități will provide information on all conducting summer of Olympics in London; competition which will take place from July 27 to August 12.

Translated by Alexandra-Diana Mircea
MTTLC, Bucharest University