{"id":306522,"date":"2021-07-23T17:26:18","date_gmt":"2021-07-23T14:26:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/eddy-alvarez-tears-up-discussing-opening-ceremony-honor\/"},"modified":"2021-07-23T17:26:18","modified_gmt":"2021-07-23T14:26:18","slug":"eddy-alvarez-tears-up-discussing-opening-ceremony-honor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/eddy-alvarez-tears-up-discussing-opening-ceremony-honor\/","title":{"rendered":"#Eddy Alvarez tears up discussing opening ceremony ‘honor’"},"content":{"rendered":"

“#Eddy Alvarez tears up discussing opening ceremony ‘honor’<\/strong>”<\/p>\n

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The baseball player selected to be Team USA\u2019s flag bearer was captured in an emotional video<\/a> tearfully explaining how the honor means \u201ceverything\u201d to him and in a statement, said his \u201cstory represents the American Dream.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eddy Alvarez, a 31-year-old first-generation Cuban American, is a shortstop for the Miami Marlins minor league system and was the first baseball player to hold the American flag when he led Team USA into Friday\u2019s Olympic opening ceremony in Tokyo.<\/p>\n

\u201cI owe so much to my parents, to my family,\u201d Alvarez tearfully said in a video posted by Team USA when he was asked about how he felt about being the flag bearer.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt means,\u201d the player paused as he gathered his composure, \u201ceverything to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI came over to this country, so to be able to lead Team USA is an absolute honor. It was a lot of sacrifice I\u2019ve had to make in this life in my athletic career so, I\u2019m just absolutely incredibly honored and what a privilege.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Flag
Flag bearers Sue Bird and Eddy Alvarez lead Team USA during the athletes parade at the opening ceremony on July 23, 2021.<\/figcaption>
REUTERS<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Alvarez shared the spotlight Friday with basketball player Sue Bird and the two led the American delegation of more than 230 athletes selected to walk in the ceremony and represent the country.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am a little freaked out right now,\u201d Alvarez, who was miked up during the ceremony, said as he led the team in.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am happ<\/a>y Sue is here to hold me up.\u201d<\/p>\n

The pair were voted to be the flag bearers by their fellow Team USA athletes.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\"Flagbearer
Flag bearer Eddy Alvarez reacts to the news<\/a> of his position.<\/figcaption>
Team USA<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

In a statement, Alvarez said it was an \u201chonor and a privilege to be named as one of the flag bearers, the Washington Post reported. <\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cBeing 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,\u201d Alvarez said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI am grateful for my time with US Speedskating and USA Baseball, as well as for all of my teammates, and I am humbled to lead Team USA into the Tokyo Olympic Game<\/a>s.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alvarez has been honing his speed skating and baseball skills since he was a kid and won the silver medal in the 5,000-meter short-track speed skating relay in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, losing to Russia by less than three-tenths of a second.<\/p>\n

He told the Miami Herald<\/a> he hopes to win big in Tokyo and be one of the few athletes to medal in both the summer and winter games.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you\u2019re so close to winning and you have to stand on the podium and listen to someone else\u2019s anthem, it leaves just a little bit of that bittersweet feeling,\u201d he said previously.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThis trip<\/a> is like a second chance. I\u2019m going with this to absolutely leave it on the field.\u201d\n <\/p><\/div>\n