Team USA announced its selection of athletes to represent it at the opening ceremony of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and it includes a first-generation Cuban American.
Eddy Alvarez, a uniquely winter and summer Olympian, and Sue Bird, a five-time Olympian and four-time Olympic champion, will serve as flag bearers during the ceremony Friday, Team USA announced Wednesday.
“It is an honor and a privilege to be named as one of the flag bearers by my fellow Team USA athletes for the opening ceremony,” said Alvarez, 31, in a video, speaking with his team after the selection was announced.
An honor unlike any other.@eddyalvarez90 and @S10Bird have been selected as #TeamUSA’s flag bearers for the #TokyoOlympics Opening Ceremony. ?? pic.twitter.com/w7VFMYANft
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) July 21, 2021
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Alvarez, also a USA Baseball team member and member of the Marlins’ triple-A club, is the first baseball player selected for the honor.
“I like to explain is as I am a prime example of what the American dream is, and to get this opportunity to lead Team USA is unbelievable,” he continued in the video.
“Being a first-generation Cuban American, my story represents the American dream. My family has sacrificed so much for me to have the opportunity to wave this flag proudly.”
“They got out for a chance at an opportunity and freedom,” Alvarez continued. “Because of them, I’m able to put on this uniform and represent this country. Because of them, I’m able to basically have a freedom of speech.”
“To be able to lead #TeamUSA is an absolute honor.”
No one better to represent our sport and @TeamUSA than @eddyalvarez90. #ForGlory?? #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/eQRqxH1CG6
— USA Baseball (@USABaseball) July 21, 2021
“Thank you to everyone that honored me with this privilege! I will wave our colors proudly,” Alvarez added in a tweet.
Thank you to everyone that honored me with this privilege! I will wave our colors proudly ?????? #GoTeamUSA https://t.co/eshDmDdmjS
— Eddy Alvarez (@eddyalvarez90) July 21, 2021
The duo, who represent the first time Team USA has selected a male and a female, were selected by fellow members of Team USA.
Bird, 40, said the honor was particularly special as she was chosen by her teammates.
“I think that’s the best part, to be honest, to have your peers be the one to kind of see your career and pick you to be the one to lead us in,” she said Wednesday.
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Bird, also the partner of soccer star Megan Rapinoe, said the honor was special as Team USA coach, WNBA Hall of Famer Dawn Staley, was previously chosen to be a flag bearer, and her representing the team was Bird’s “favorite moment, outside of winning, obviously.”
“So, to actually be named [flag bearer] now is mind-blowing,” she added.
Alvarez and Bird were widely congratulated online:
What an honor ?
Sue Bird has been selected as a Flag Bearer for the #Tokyo2020 Opening Ceremony! ?? pic.twitter.com/Sxi8osZgmx
— UConn Women’s Basketball (@UConnWBB) July 21, 2021
?? Representing on the world stage ??
The GOAT will be a flag bearer for @TeamUSA at the #TokyoOlympics Opening Ceremony!@S10Bird x #TakeCover pic.twitter.com/qEiAiEe5JB
— Seattle Storm (@seattlestorm) July 21, 2021
Congrats @eddyalvarez90 & @S10Bird!!
— Ryan Murphy (@ryan_f_murphy) July 21, 2021
Flag-bearers for @TeamUSA are @S10Bird and @eddyalvarez90.
Eddy grew-up in sultry Miami raised by Cuban-American parents, and somehow took up ice skating. He medaled at Winter Olympics.
Now, he’s back playing baseball in Summer #SummerOlympics.
Making the #305 and USA proud.?? pic.twitter.com/VLcPd5OxlY— Ana Navarro-Cárdenas (@ananavarro) July 21, 2021
