EJ Obiena and Kiyomi Watanabe have been chosen by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) as the Philippine team’s flag bearers for the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremonies.
POC president Abraham Tolentino said on Thursday that Obiena, the world ranked number six male pole vaulter, and Watanabe, arguably the best Filipina judoka right now, were tapped to wave the Philippine flag based on two major factors that would determine if they are free to bring the flag around the athletic oval on July 23.
“We based our selection on the availability ‘kung sino ang andoon na dahil ‘di tayo sabay-sabay darating doon‘ (whoever is already there because everyone will not fly together there) and the schedule of their games and practice. All 19 athletes are qualified to be flag bearers, but we based the selection on the flight availability, whoever is in Tokyo, and also the schedules of their games and practices,” said Tolentino.
This is not the first time Obiena and Watanabe will be carrying the Philippine flag as they were also tapped as flag bearers for the Philippine team during the 2019 Southeast Asian Games opening ceremonies at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
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