August 11th 2024.
As the Paris 2024 Olympics came to a close, Team GB's flag bearer Alex Yee nearly had a moment that could have been quite embarrassing. Yee, who had won gold and bronze in the triathlon events, was chosen to lead his team alongside trampoline gold medalist Bryony Page at the closing ceremony held at the Stade de France.
As the two flag bearers made their way into the stadium, they were greeted by a sea of fans and a grand entrance. However, they were quickly faced with an unexpected obstacle - a loose bit of carpet that caused chaos as athletes tripped over it while trying to wave to their supporters.
Even Antoine Dupont, France's flag bearer and winner of the rugby sevens, was not spared from the mishap as he stumbled over the carpet. BBC commentator Andrew Cotter couldn't resist making a humorous remark, saying, "Oh! Antoine Dupont nearly tripped over the carpet, in the Stade De France no less!"
As more athletes fell victim to the same spot, Cotter jokingly suggested putting up a small cone for health and safety purposes. Amidst the chaos, Yee and Page finally made their entrance, with Yee looking out to the crowd and almost falling before managing to catch himself.
Cotter and his co-commentator Hazel Irvine couldn't hold back their laughter at the situation, with Cotter exclaiming, "Honestly, Alex almost went as well there!" Prior to the ceremony, Yee had expressed his excitement and honor at being chosen as one of the flag bearers for Team GB. He had missed out on the closing ceremony in Tokyo and was determined to experience it in Paris.
As he proudly carried the British flag, Yee's focus was on representing his team and country well. However, amidst all the pressure and attention, he almost took a tumble on the infamous carpet. Thankfully, he managed to save himself from a fall, much to the relief of Cotter and Irvine.
Reflecting on his experience, Yee shared, "The Closing Ceremony is a key part of the Olympic experience and having not got to experience it in Tokyo, I wanted to come to it in Paris. So, to be able to go to it, first of all, was really special, but then to get the phone call this morning to be asked to hold the GB flag was really, really special."
Yee also acknowledged the incredible performances of his teammates and how proud he was to represent his country. Despite the near-tumble, Yee's determination and focus shone through as he carried the flag with pride and grace, representing Team GB in the best possible way.
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