Elshwikh, who was the lone sitting volleyball athlete among the flag bearers of the 165 participating National Paralympic Committees at the parade of athletes, expressed his feelings before the ceremony.
“It’s a source of great pride. In this tournament I hope to achieve better than the bronze medal I won at Rio 2016.”
– Elshwikh
The Egypt captain is playing in his sixth consecutive Paralympic Games and is aiming to add another medal to his collection. He previously won two bronze medals from hard-earned five-set victories at Athens 2004 and Rio 2016.
The parade of athletes’ theme is ‘Winds of Change’. These winds are stirred up by the Paralympians who, throughout the pandemic, have continued to train in different manners, whether in their bedrooms, back gardens and training facilities. Now, they will challenge their personal limits at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.
“I’m sorry that this pandemic affected the Paralympics, but I’m proud it was held in 2021. I hope the pandemic disappears,” Elshwikh said.
Moments after the parade of athletes, Rwanda captain Mukobwankawe emerged from the spotlight with five other athletes carrying the Paralympic Games flag.
“I am speechless. I am so happy and so excited. And I will never forget this moment.”
– Mukobwankawe
Mukobwankawe has a physical disability with her right leg due to a car accident when she was a child.
In 2007, she started with sitting volleyball at Gasabo Sitball team and became captain of the Rwandan national team at Rio 2016.
Since 2020, she is the vice president of the Rwanda Athletes Commission and a WPV Athletes Commission member.
Liliane @mukobwankabo leads Rwanda and Africa at the #Tokyo2020 #Paralympics.#FactsOnRwanda | #RwOT pic.twitter.com/ZtGKFgDqCV
— Facts On Rwanda (@FactsOnRwanda) August 24, 2021