Estonian Minister of Culture departs for Olympics
Estonian Minister of Culture Indrek Saar departed for Rio de Janeiro on Thursday evening. He will be attending the 2016 Summer Olympics as a representative of the Estonian government.
Saar is scheduled to attend the opening ceremony of the 2016 Summer Olympics in support of Estonian athletes on Friday. "The efforts of our athletes already deserve recognition," commented the minister prior to his departure.
According to Saar, competing for medals must be done in accordance with Olympic ideals, adding that doping is the biggest threat to those ideals and the world's sports organizations must do everything in their power to protect honest competition.
The Estonian Olympic delegation consists of 47 athletes in 13 different events as well as 44 support personnel. The event with the greatest Estonian representation is track and field, boasting a total of 18 athletes.
The oldest member of the Estonian delegation is discus thrower Gerd Kanter, age 37; the youngest is 20-year-old 49erFX sailor Anna Maria Sepp. The Rio Games will be the first Olympics for 25 Estonian athletes.
The 2016 Rio Games will take place from Aug. 5-21.
Saar is slated to return to Estonia from Brazil on Aug. 13.
Editor: Editor: Aili Sarapik
Source: BNS