Head of state gathering on 3x3’s Olympic opening day
TOKYO (Japan) - Several heads of state attended 3x3’s Olympic debut in Tokyo on July 24, 2021.
TOKYO (Japan) - It was one of the highlights of Day 1 for 3x3 at the Olympics on July 24, 2021: French President Emmanuel Macron and the First Lady of the United States Dr. Jill Biden in the bleachers of the 3x3 Olympic venue.
17-10 Win! So proud of you @usab3x3! #Olympics https://t.co/81S8uFfBpr
— Jill Biden (@FLOTUS) July 24, 2021
Not only were they celebrating every basket of the France-USA women’s game, they also addressed the players immediately after the games from the bleachers for long minutes, in what almost seemed like a flash interview.
President Macron addressed the media after the games and spoke very highly of the new Olympic discipline: “It was the first time I saw 3x3 with my own eyes and I must say it’s amazing. […] It is quite impressive, physically speaking. It’s 10 minutes, nonstop with a form of self-management, that is stunning.”
🇫🇷 @EmmanuelMacron, French President and 3x3 fan#3x3 | #Tokyo2020 | @3x3ffbb | @franceolympique pic.twitter.com/iQXsZJYwGZ
— FIBA3x3 ➡️ #3x3 #Tokyo2020 (@FIBA3x3) July 24, 2021
Polish President Andrzej Duda liked 3x3 so much that he came in the morning to watch Poland-Latvia… and came back at 7pm to watch the team again beat Japan in a dramatic overtime.
⚪️🔴 @AndrzejDuda mecz #KoszKadra w #Tokyo2020 oglądał w towarzystwie sekretarza generalnego @FIBA, Andreasa Zagklisa 🏀#DawajPolska
— KoszKadra (@KoszKadra) July 24, 2021
📷 @FIBA3x3 pic.twitter.com/mlhKJnowyT
The games were also attended by Captains Regent of San Marino Marco Nicolini and Gian Carlo Venturini.
The Head of State visits will continue on Day 2 with Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene in attendance as his women’s 3x3 national team became the first-ever Mongolian team to compete at the Olympics (the country had only participated in individual sports to this day).