Venezuelan President says goodbye to Olympic delegation

CARACAS - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Thursday headed the farewell ceremony for the Venezuelan Olympic delegation which will take part in London 2012.

During the ceremony held at Palacio de Miraflores, seat of the government in Caracas, Chavez gave the Venezuelan flag to table tennis player Fabiola Ramos, Venezuela's standard-bearer of the 69-athlete delegation.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, center, stands with table tennis player Fabiola Ramos, right, and Sport Minister Hector Rodriguez during a ceremony to name Ramos as Venezuela's flag bearer for the opening ceremony at the London 2012 Olympic Games in Caracas, July 12, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

The Venezuelan delegation will participate in 14 sports in the 30th Olympic Games, to be held from July 27 to ust 12 in London. It's the fifth time Ramos takes part in the Olympic Games.

Chavez and all the participants in the ceremony, including the sports' authorities, wore the delegation's uniform for London 2012, which has the colors of the Venezuelan flag.

The Venezuelan president, a baseball fan, joked and greeted the presence of baseball player Antonio "Potro" Alvarez. Chavez also praised the performance of Venezuelan player Johan Santana in the United States' Mayor League Baseball.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, left, chats with table tennis player Fabiola Ramos during a ceremony to name her as Venezuela's flag bearer for the opening ceremony at the London 2012 Olympic Games in Caracas, July 12, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]