Polish president to attend Olympic opening ceremony in Paris

2024-07-25 21:41 update: 2024-07-25, 21:43
Andrzej Duda. Photo PAP/Paweł Supernak
Andrzej Duda. Photo PAP/Paweł Supernak
Polish President Andrzej Duda left for Paris on Thursday afternoon to attend the opening ceremony of the Olympics on Friday and support the Polish national team.

Before leaving, he wished Polish athletes competing in the games "good luck and winning as many medals as possible.

"We will be happy with every success. We keep our fingers crossed for all athletes," he said.

Duda added that this year marks 100 years after a 81-strong team form Poland took part in the Olympic Games for the first time and since then Poles have won a total of 298 Olympic medals. 

"We hope that our athletes will significantly exceed the limit of 300 Olympic medals," he said.

Duda will stay in the French capital till Sunday to support Polish athletes, the President's Office said on its website. 

On Friday, he is set to take part in the opening of the Polish House in Paris and attend an oath-taking ceremony for Polish athletes and representatives of the Polish Olympic Committee.

On Friday evening, he will join world leaders at the Olympics opening ceremony, which for the the first time will not be held at a stadium but across the River Seine. 

On Saturday, Duda is scheduled to visit the Olympic Village and watch Poland's men's volleyball team against Egypt.

On Sunday he will support the Polish national team in the rowing regatta and the national women's volleyball team as they take on Japan.

A total of 213 Polish athletes, 100 men and 113 women, have been selected to compete in the Paris Games, which take place from July 26 to August 11. (PAP)
mr/mf