SPORTS personalities across Spain have raised objections after rumours Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos (pictured) could be the country's flag-bearer at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Weight-lifter Lydia Valentín, who has a gold, a silver and a bronze to her name – but did not get the first two until nearly 10 years later when her opponents were disqualified for doping – has retweeted comments from other sports celebrities saying it should be her, or canoeist Saúl Craviotto, who lead up the parade in the Japanese capital next summer.
Calls among supporters of both have been put out for the 'minority sports', such as theirs, to be given visibility.
Power-walker Jesús Ángel García Bragado is another competitor the sports world would welcome as flag-bearer – although he has not been highly-decorated at this level, with two fourth-place diplomas, despite multiple world and European championship medals making him the most prolific medal-winning Spanish athlete, García Bragado has competed in more Olympic Games than any other Spaniard, seven in total.
García Bragado, who turned 50 yesterday (Thursday) but plans to take part in his eighth Games next year, supports first-division team Atlético de Madrid, one of Real's biggest rivals, and says he would rather see the former's 24-year-old Elche-born Saúl Ñíguez as flag-bearer if a footballer is to do so, but that this would be 'difficult' and the other Saúl, with four Olympic medals in kayaking – two golds, a silver and a bronze - 'undoubtedly deserves' the honour.
Fellow athlete Ángel David Rodríguez joined the debate, which he blamed the media for starting.
In practice, all these opinions are academic: the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE) statutes stipulate that among those confirmed as competing, the one with the most medals carries the flag at the front of the procession in the opening ceremony.
This would be Saúl Craviotto.
Tennis ace Rafael Nadal was due to do so at London 2012, but had been forced to scratch from the Games due to a knee injury that became apparent at Wimbledon after he crashed out in the first round.
A petition on Change.org ahead of Rio 2016 called for super-swimmer Mireia Belmonte to be elected, believing it high time a woman was chosen, but dissenters said Nadal should get another chance since his losing out on the honour at the last minute four years previously had been a bitter disappointment – and Mireia, who is currently 26 to Rafa's 33, arguably has more Olympic Games left in her and will therefore have other chances in the future.
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