The 2016 Olympic Games officially kicked off in Rio Friday August 5th, with the opening ceremony at the Maracana stadium with more than 11,000 athletes from 206 nations, and a refugee team in Brazil to compete in 28 sports. This is the 31st Olympiad games but the 28th to be held as those in 1916, 1940 and 1944 did not take place because of war. This is the 31st Olympiad games but the 28th to be held as those in 1916, 1940 and 1944 did not take place because of war.
The Games held in South America for the first time officially takes place between August 5th- 21st. With 554 athletes, the United States has the largest Olympic team, but 100m runner Etimoni Timuani is the only athlete from the South Pacific nation of Tuvalu.
The Rio Games will be the first to feature Olympians born since the year 2000 – and the youngest is 13-year-old Nepalese swimmer Gaurika Singh.
NOW LET’S TALK HAITI
There are 10 athletes competing for Haiti this year. Read more about them here.
This is Haiti’s 15th participation since 1924.
In 1924 Haiti won a silver medal (per team) in the free shooting competition at 400, 600 and 800m. In 1928, Haiti participated in the Olympic Games in Amsterdam where Silvio Cator won a silver medal with a long jump of 7m58. Out of 14 Haiti’s participation in the Olympic Games, Haiti won 2 silver medals (1924 and 1928) under US occupation.
Out of 14 Haiti’s participation in the Olympic Games, Haiti won 2 silver medals (1924 and 1928) under US occupation.
Haiti debuted at Paris 1900. Over 15 editions, Haitian athletes have climbed the podium on two occasions: at Paris 1924, with a bronze in shooting, and in the following edition, Amsterdam 1928, with a silver in athletics.
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MEET THE ATHLETES
Asnage Castelly
March 29, 1978 (Age 38)
Wrestling Men’s Freestyle 74 kg
Aniya Necol Louissaint
September 09, 1998 (Age 17)
Taekwondo Women -67kg
Darrell Wesh
January 21, 1992 (Age 24)
Athletics Men’s 100m
Edouard Joseph
December 24, 1989 (Age 26)
Weightlifting Men’s 62kg
Frantz Dorsainvil
July 02, 1991 (Age 25)
Swimming Men’s 50m Freestyle
Josue Deprez
October 30, 1981 (Age 34)
Judo Men -73 kg
Jeffrey Julmis
September 30, 1987 (Age 28)
Athletics Men’s 110m Hurdles
Mulern Jean
September 25, 1992 (Age 23)
Athletics Women’s 100m Hurdles
Naomy Grand Pierre
April 16, 1997 (Age 19)
Swimming Women’s 50m Freestyle
Richardson Hitchins
September 26, 1997 (Age 18)
Boxing Men’s Light Welter (64kg)
THE PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE
Monday, August 8 / 6:00 am – Josue Deprez, judo, 73 kg
Monday, August 8 / 7:00 am – Edward Joseph, weightlifting, 62 kg
Wednesday, August 10th /8:00 am-Richardson Hitchins boxing light welterweight 64 kg
Thursday, August 11 / 10.00 am – Mike (Frantz) Dorsainvil swimming 50m freestyle
Friday, August 12 / 10.00 am – Naomy (Hope) Grand’Pierre swimming 50m freestyle
Saturday, August 13th / 6:30 am – Darrell Wesh, athletics, 100 meters
Monday, August 15th / 5:30 pm – Jeffrey Julmis, athletics, 110m hurdles
Tuesday, August 16 / 10.00 am – Mulern Jean, athletics, 100 meters hurdles
Friday, August 19th / 6:00 am – Aniya Louissaint, taekwondo, 67 kg
Friday, August 19th / 6:00 am – Asnage Castelly, wrestling, 74 kg
OPENING CEREMONY
The 2016 Rio Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony kick off Friday night with over 200 countries represented in the event! During the Parade of Nations, athletes from each country marched through Maracana Stadium with one special athlete given the opportunity to hold the flag.
It is tradition for Greece to start the parade and for the host nation (Brazil this year) to close it out.
Haiti’s flag bearers was Asnage Castelly (Wrestling).
The women traditional Haiti costumes were designed by renowned Haitian stylist David Maëlle.
Every country had their own unique style during Rio’s Parade of Nations but according to Yahoo, Haiti was the third best-dressed team and had the most on-trend looks in the Olympic Opening Ceremony. See who else made the list Here.
The ruffles, the off-the-shoulder styles and the tiered skirts might just be the most on-trend looks in the Opening Ceremony. – Yahoo
Here are a few more pictures of the team members in Rio.
