Colombian President Gustavo Petro and First Lady Verónica Alcocer will be reunited in Paris after spending a month and a half apart. The couple will attend the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games, followed by several scheduled events in the French capital.
Their last joint public appearance was during a state visit to Switzerland on June 15. According to reports from La FM, President Petro will leave for Paris after participating in the Navy Day ceremony, while Alcocer is in Switzerland for a reconciliation forum and will join him directly in Paris.
In Paris, the couple’s itinerary includes a meeting with France’s First Lady, Brigitte Macron, and the inauguration of Casa Colombia. They will also participate in various cultural and diplomatic activities aimed at strengthening ties between Colombia and France.
President Gustavo Petro is traveling to Paris for the Olympic Games opening ceremony, which is set for Friday, July 26, along the scenic banks of the Seine River. This marks an innovative venue in Olympic history. Petro departed on Wednesday night with a delegation that includes several ministers and First Lady Verónica Alcocer.
Among those accompanying the president are the Minister of Sports, Luz Cristina López; Minister of Culture, Juan David Correa; Director of the Administrative Department of the Presidency, Laura Sarabia; and ProColombia President, Carmen Caballero. In addition to attending the inaugural ceremony, Petro will preside over the opening of Casa Colombia, a space created by the Colombian Olympic Committee to support athletes, artists, and media representatives.
The Games in Paris are expected to feature roughly 10,500 athletes from 206 delegations. The Colombian team will consist of 89 athletes, including Olympic medalists like Mariana Pajón, Lorena Arenas, and Anthony Zambrano.
Casa Colombia will officially be unveiled to the public on July 25, with Petro present at the event. This venue was previously utilized by the Colombian government to commemorate Colombia’s Independence Day on July 20. The president’s presence in Paris is intended to not only back Colombian athletes but also to promote the nation’s image on a global platform.
The Colombian government and the Colombian Olympic Committee (COC) have announced plans for Casa Colombia in Paris for the upcoming Olympics and Paralympics. This initiative aims to showcase Colombia’s culture and wealth to the millions of tourists expected to visit during the sporting event.
The space will be located in Parc de la Villette, rented by the COC for a cost of 6,000 euros for a two-month period, from July 15 to September 11. This rental will also accommodate celebrations for Colombia’s Independence Day on July 20.
While the COC will cover the rental fee, the government will assume the main expenses related to infrastructure and coordination with various ministries. The total cost of the project is estimated to exceed one million euros.
Colombian Ambassador to France, Alfonso Prada, played an instrumental role in realizing this initiative, which will serve as a platform to promote Colombian culture as well as a media center to closely follow the national delegation’s participation in the Games.
The Casa Colombia will also feature a space for journalists covering the competitions. Colombian athletes will have a dedicated area for engaging with the media, and the garden will include a stage for celebrating the delegation’s victories.
Cultural and artistic aspects will be central to Casa Colombia over these two months. A call has been launched for Colombian artists in Europe to showcase their work at the various events planned, promoting a vibrant cultural exchange.
Image and News Source: https://www.infobae.com/colombia/2024/07/23/presidente-petro-y-primera-dama-estaran-juntos-en-paris-para-inauguracion-de-juegos-olimpicos-y-otros-eventos-diplomaticos/
