BARCELONA, Spain, July 19 (Xinhua) -- With only days to go before the opening of the Paris Olympic Games, Spain's athletes are optimistic and looking forward to competing with the best athletes from around the world.
From July 26 to August 11, 382 athletes from Spain, including 192 women and 190 men, will participate in 28 sports. The number of athletes is more than three years ago in Tokyo but less than the record number of 421 athletes that competed on home turf at Barcelona 1992.
"We want to enjoy the atmosphere in these last few days leading up to the Games, and I think we are in better shape than ever physically. We believe that in 2024 we are going to achieve something big, which is what we work for each day," said the Spanish rower Javier Garcia.
Virginia Diaz Rivas, another rower of Spain, said, "My wish for Paris is to be in the best physical, technical, and mental state to give 100 percent of myself in each race, to battle, and to come home satisfied and happy."
Spain won three gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics, an all-time low for the country, and so this year, the athletes hope to improve on that medal tally significantly.
However, many Spanish athletes insist that medals aside, an important factor is having the chance to participate and show the public what they are capable of.
"This will be my second Games and I have that experience, in dealing with the nerves and so on, that I think will allow me to face them much better and enjoy that experience of the Olympic Games much more with family, friends, and everyone who comes to see me," said Spain's taekwondo athlete Javier Perez Polo.
Meanwhile, sprint canoeist Marcus Cooper of Spain focused on how people can benefit from sport's positive values, "We hope those values spread to all sectors of society, so everyone can enjoy all the sports, learn from them, and celebrate the success."
For sailor Tamara Echegoyen, the Paris 2024 will have particular significance because she has been chosen as a flagbearer and will lead the Spanish team during the opening ceremony.
"I think that any athlete would feel very lucky to have this honor, and the truth is that it takes a few days to realize that you are going to be the one who will carry the flag of your country in the Olympic Games and lead out that great Spanish team that we have for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games," she said.
According to the International Olympic Committee, around 10,500 athletes from 206 National Olympic Committees and the Refugee Olympic Team will compete at the upcoming Olympic Games. ■
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