Wrestler Mijain Lopez will be Cuba's Olympic flag-bearer

HAVANA - Greco-roman wrestler Mijain Lopez will be Cuba's flag-bearer at the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, the country announced on Wednesday.

"It will be a great privilege for the Cuban delegation for Mijain to carry the national flag in this important competition," said Antonio Becali, president of the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (INDER), at a press conference.

This will see Lopez carry the Cuban flag at his third Olympiad, after doing so in Beijing 2008 and London 2012, equaling the record of Cuban boxer lTeofilo Stevenson, who was the flag-bearer at Munich 1972, Montreal 1976 and Moscow 1980.

Lopez, who competes in the 130kg division, has won two Olympic gold medals and five world championships, and will hope to add a third gold to his tally in Rio.

To date, Cuba has 107 athletes qualified for the Olympics across 17 sports.

"We are in a better shape than four years ago," said Becali, who added that Cuba is aiming to be in the top 20 of the medal tally.

In London 2012, Cuba finished in 15th position, with five gold medals, three silver medals and seven bronze medals.