Chief of the Portuguese delegation to the Olympic Games of Beijing 2008 Manuel Boa de Jesus said Sunday in the city of Oporto (north) that the athlete to bear the national flag in the Olympic Games will be known till the first days of August.

"The flag-bearer has not been chosen. It's confidential till the first days of August. I'll consult with the chiefs of each modality teams on the possible candidate and later I'll decide," Boa de Jesus said.

Runner Fernanda Ribeiro, who won a gold in Atlanta 1996 and is trying to classify in the 10,000 meters to guarantee her sixth participation in the Olympics, seems to be the strongest candidate, Boa de Jesus said.

"It's hypothesis. The chosen athlete must have enough sports prestige to bear the flag of Portugal in an event with the global dimension of the Olympic Games," Boa de Jesus said.

Portugal has 73 classified athletes for the Olympic Games of Beijing 2008, which will take place from August 8-24.

(Xinhua News Agency July 7, 2008)