Federica Pellegrini is Italy's flag bearer for Rio 2016

(AGI) Rome, Apr 27 - Federica Pellegrini has been officially named as the Italian flag bearer for the launch ceremony for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The announcement was made by Giovanni Malago during a meeting of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) at the Foro Italico sports complex in Rome. Swimming world record-holder Pellegrini will also celebrate her 28th birthday on the same day, Aug. 5. "Honestly my name has come up so often in the papers, but perhaps out of superstition or fear that it might not happen I've never believed it. Now it's official: I'm feeling very emotional, very happy", she told a press conference at the CONI meeting. "The sport has always been my life, my passion. I've had ups and downs in my career, I've lost direction and important people along the way, but luckily I have found others. What I want to take to Rio is the will to fight, not to give up. I hope Italians watching us at home will feel more Italian, regardless of the result. That would mean that sport has won. I am not sure whether Rio will be my last Olympics, but it could be. It might be a bit bold to think about Rome 2024, I don't think I'd take part as an athlete, but I would like to be part of the group of people who think they can make the dream come true. After the Olympics I'll take a bit of time off to think about my personal and professional life. My thoughts vary, this has been my life for so many years - on one hand there's the desire to keep going, on the other there's a desire to build a different life. It will be an extremely difficult decision whichever way it goes." (AGI).