HENRI AND GUILLAUME OF LUXEMBOURG RECEIVE THE OLYMPIC ATHLETES AT THE GRAND-DUCAL PALACE
Group photo of the Luxembourg sports delegation taking part in the 2024 Olympic Games with Grand Duke Henri, Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and Chef de Mission Raymond Conzemius (Photo: LUXPRESS/Jean-Claude Ernst)
On 28 June 2024, a month before the start of the Olympic Games, Grand Duke Henri and Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume received around ten sportsmen and women who will be representing Luxembourg at the next Olympics. The athletes also wore the official national costume in the country's colours.
Luxembourg sportsmen and women are invited to the Grand Ducal Palace by Grand Duke Henri (Photo: LUXPRESS/Jean-Claude Ernst)
Grand Duke Henri and Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume meet the athletes from the Luxembourg delegation
On Friday, Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, 69, received the Luxembourg sportsmen and women who had qualified to represent their country at the forthcoming Olympic Games. His eldest son, the Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume, 42, attended the reception. The 33rd edition of the Olympics kicks off on 26 July in Paris. Grand Duke Henri will be present in the French capital to attend the opening ceremony, as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Grand Duke Henri meets trainer Nicolas Wagner Ehlinger and archer Klein Pit (Photo: LUXPRESS/Jean-Claude Ernst)
Around ten athletes, members of their staff and representatives of the Luxembourg Olympic and Sports Committee (COSL) arrived at the Grand Ducal Palace on 28 June. The athletes all wore the official uniform of their delegation. It is in these costumes that they will parade behind their flag-bearer at the opening ceremony on 26 July.
Le grand-duc héritier Guillaume salue les sportifs (Photo : LUXPRESS/Jean-Claude Ernst)
Grand Duke Henri in discussion with shot putter Bob Bertemes and athlete Patrizia van der Weken (Photo: LUXPRESS/Jean-Claude Ernst)
The Luxembourg delegation in their national costumes at the Grand Ducal Palace
The costumes are a pleated red skirt for the women, with a white shirt with blue lines and a white jacket. The men wear light beige trousers with a white shirt and a blue suit jacket with fine checks.
Over the past few days, Grand Duke Henri has stepped up his commitments in connection with the Olympic Games. On Thursday, Grand Duke Henri, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa and Prince Louis attended the Olympic torch relay in Schengen. Earlier on Friday, the Sovereign went to La Coque to take part in table tennis training with the three table tennis players who will be taking part in the Olympic Games.
The sportsmen and women were received by Luxembourg's Head of State and his heir on 28 June 2024 (Photo: LUXPRESS/Jean-Claude Ernst)
The COSL agreed on the names of the players selected for Paris on Monday, although a number of names have yet to be confirmed based on qualifications and certain proposals. There are a number of young sportsmen and women for whom this will be their first experience, including athlete Patrizia van der Weken, swimmer Ralph Daleiden, triathlete Jeanne Lehair and archer Klein Pit. In contrast, table tennis player Lian Ni Xia has already taken part in six Olympic Games.
Luxembourg has taken part in 25 Summer Olympics and 9 Winter Olympics. The country has only won two gold medals, one in 1900, at the very first edition, and the other in 1952. Luxembourg also won a silver medal in 1920.
NICOLAS FONTAINE
ROYAL ARTS VISIONS; HENRI AND GUILLAUME OF LUXEMBOURG RECEIVE THE OLYMPIC ATHLETES AT THE GRAND-DUCAL PALACE