STORY: Spain's athletes in positive mood as Paris 2024 approaches
SHOOTING TIME: July 19, 2024
DATELINE: July 21, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:21
LOCATION: BARCELONA, Spain
CATEGORY: SPORTS

SHOTLIST:
1. SOUNDBITE 1 (Spanish): JAVIER GARCIA, Spanish rower
2. SOUNDBITE 2 (Spanish): VIRGINIA DIAZ, Spanish rower
3. SOUNDBITE 3 (Spanish): JAVIER PEREZ POLO, Spanish taekwondo athlete
4. SOUNDBITE 4 (Spanish): MARCUS COOPER, Spanish sprint canoeist
5. SOUNDBITE 5 (Spanish): TAMARA ECHEGOYEN, Spanish sailor and flagbearer

STORYLINE:

With only days to go before the opening of the Paris Olympic Games, Spain's athletes are optimistic and look forward to competing with the best athletes from around the world.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Spanish): JAVIER GARCIA, Spanish rower
"We want to enjoy the atmosphere in these last few days leading up to the Games, and I think we are in better shape than ever physically. We believe that in 2024, we are going to achieve something big, which is what we work for each day."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Spanish): VIRGINIA DIAZ, Spanish rower
"My wish for Paris is to be in the best physical, technical, and mental state to give 100 percent of myself in each race, to battle, and to come home satisfied and happy."

SOUNDBITE 3 (Spanish): JAVIER PEREZ POLO, Spanish taekwondo athlete
"This will be my second Games and I have that experience, in dealing with the nerves and so on, which I think will allow me to face them much better and enjoy that experience of the Olympic Games much more with family, friends, and everyone who comes to see me."

SOUNDBITE 4 (Spanish): MARCUS COOPER, Spanish sprint canoeist
"We don't want the public to miss any detail, but to enjoy the sport and its values because they are all positive. We hope those values spread to all sectors of society, so everyone can enjoy all the sports, learn from them, and celebrate the success."

SOUNDBITE 5 (Spanish): TAMARA ECHEGOYEN, Spanish sailor and flagbearer
"I think that any athlete would feel very lucky to have this honor, and the truth is that it takes a few days to realize that you are going to be the one who will carry the flag of your country in the Olympic Games and lead out that great Spanish team that we have for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Barcelona, Spain.
(XHTV)