No Longer Ancient Greece

The Olympic Games, which originated in ancient Greece as many as 3,000 years ago, were revived in 1896 when the first modern Olympics took place in Athens. The tradition of flag bearer at the opening ceremonies began at the 1906 Summer Games, and 110 years later Greece has elected for the 2016 Games its first female flag bearer.

Slow progress? Yes, but Greece did select a sailor.

Sofia Bekatorou, 38, won the gold medal (470) in the 2004 Athens Olympics and the bronze medal (Yngling) in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Bekatorou’s first Olympic Games was Sydney 2000 in the 470 and in Rio she will be competing in the Nacra 17 class along Michalis Pateniotis.

“It is a great honor for me, and a special honor since I am the first female flag bearer for Greece,” Bekatorou said. I feel this is a vindication for my efforts all these years.”

Definitely!