Estonian presidential couple to attend opening ceremony of Paris Olympics

TALLINN -  Estonian President Alar Karis and First Lady Sirje Karis are travelling to Paris on Thursday to attend the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics.

Additionally, as part of his working visit to Paris, Karis will attend a summit dedicated to promoting children's physical activity, health and education, at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron and International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach on Thursday.

At the summit, the head of state will stress the importance of a comprehensive and cross-sectoral approach to increasing children's physical activity.

Together with other heads of state and government, the presidential couple will also attend the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics on Friday. The head of state will also visit the Olympic village, meet the Estonian Olympic team and their supporters, and cheer on Estonian athletes in their competitions. The president is also scheduled to have a meeting with French political and cultural figures.

"The Olympic Games are a sports celebration that unites peoples and countries, the athlete at the center of which has been preparing for this moment all their life. Besides competition, the Olympic ideals have included mastery, respect and friendship. Ideals that, in addition to enthusiasm and cheering on, shape the Olympics into the Olympics," the head of state said. "At the present time, we could also think of the Olympic peace from the ancient Olympic Games, when the cannons fell silent during the games and hostilities stopped in order to build a peaceful and better world through sports and Olympic ideals."

Sirje Karis will attend a meeting of the spouses of heads of state and government at the invitation of France's First Lady Brigitte Macron.

The presidential couple will return to Estonia on Sunday.

The 33rd Summer Olympic Games in Paris will begin on July 26 and last until August 11. Estonia is represented by 25 athletes from 14 sports.