Financiarul

Romania’s team of athletes to compete in the 21st edition of the Winter Olympic Games, to be held in Vancouver, Canada, February 12-28, was publicly unveiled on Thursday at a short ceremony hosted by the Sydney 2000 Olympic Complex of Izvorani.

Attending the ceremony were Minister of Education, Research, Youth and Sports Daniel Funeriu; Chairman of the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee (COSR) Octavian Morariu; state secretary Doina Melinte; state adviser Mariana Bitang; Chair of the National Anti-Doping Agency Gratiela Vajaiala and COSR Deputy Chairs Marcel Popescu and Nicu Vlad.

Romania’s team is made up of 28 athletes, 15 coaches and 5 officials, 3 athletes more than in the previous edition held in Turin. The team is headed by Alexandru Epuran. Morariu said Romania is lining up a medium team that will compete in eight disciplines – bobsleigh, biathlon, luge, skeleton, alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, short track and figure skating.

Famous retired women’s gymnastics coach Mariana Bitang conveyed a message from President Traian Basescu, wishing the Romanian athletes success in the Vancouver Olympic Games. The best performance of Romania to date was recorded in the 1968 Grenoble Winter Games, when the bobsleigh double team won bronze, the only medal ever won by Romania in the Winter Olympic Games.