Ozolins says carrying flag at Olympics "indescribable"

2014-02-08
From wire reports, RIGA

Sandis Ozolins leads the group of Latvian athletes in Sochi, Russia (pic: twitter)

Ice hockey star Sandis Ozolins spoke of the "indescribable joy" whilst carrying the Latvian flag at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

"The joy of the experience is indescribable; my smile is all over my face. I am happy for all of our athletes, who have earned the honor and the fantastic opportunity to be a part of the opening ceremony. We were like a team - all united together," Ozolins commented afterwards.

Elsewhere, 40-year-old Ule Einar Bjoerndalen, proved he is still on top, at least in the sprint distance, winning Olympic gold once again.

The Norwegian is the oldest athlete ever to take a gold medal in an individual event. The medal is the athelete's seventh.

Andrejs Rastorgujevs, one of Latvia's hopefuls for a biathlon medal at the Sochi Winter Games, finished 17th out of over 80 athletes.

Around 50 Latvian atheltes are competing in the Winter Games this year. Estonia has sent 25 athletes to the games whilst Lithuania, nine.