LONDRES (AP) — Todo padre se siente orgulloso de su hijo cuando compite en una olimpiada. Pero, ¿qué pasa si el hijo defiende un equipo y el padre otro?

"Es una celebración, un regalo de la vida el poder ser parte de esto", dice Jon Uriarte, técnico de Australia cuyo hijo Nicolás integra la selección de Argentina.

Australia y Argentina se medirán en sus debuts en el torneo olímpico el domingo.

Lejos de considerarlo algo dramático, Jon Uriarte cree que el poder verse las caras en un torneo como las olimpiadas es algo digno de celebrar.

"Yo y mi hijo... Es una linda historia para el deporte en general, no solo el vóleibol", dijo Uriarte padre.

Uriarte jugó 11 años en la selección argentina y ganó la medalla de bronce de los Juegos de Seúl en 1988.

Esta es su segunda gestión al frente de Australia. Primero lo contrataron en el 2001 y ayudó a que Australia se clasificase a los juegos de Atenas. Ahora volvieron a llamarlo en el 2011.

También dirigió a Argentina, lo que podría ser una ventaja el domingo, ya que conoce bien a sus rivales. Empezando por su propio hijo.

Nicolás Uriarte es una joven promesa de 22 años que fue elegido el jugador más valioso del mundial junior del 2009.

"Será un tanto extraño, muy emocionante", indicó Nicolás. "Mi familia estará apoyando a Argentina, obviamente, pero nos alentarán a los dos. Hablo con mi padre, aunque no de los equipos, y nos reímos un poco" de todo esto.

Jon Uriarte, por su parte, afirmó que "en la familia reina un espíritu de gran felicidad y festejo".

"Nunca hice fuerza para que mis hijos jugasen. Hace poco nos dimos cuenta de todo lo que nos dio el vóleibol. Es algo enorme", acotó. El partido del domingo "va a ser fantástico".

Argentina figura octava en la clasificación mundial. El año pasado terminó cuarta en la Liga Mundial.

El equipo sudamericano es el más fuerte en los papeles ya que los Volleyroos australianos están 22dos en el mundo.

Los Uriarte no son el único caso de padre e hijo en los juegos. En Brasil el técnico Bernardo Rezende, o Bernardinho, dirige a su hijo Bruno Rezende, quien es armador, igual que Nicolás Uriarte.

Pero ambos tiran para el mismo lado. Los dos Rezende estuvieron también en Beijing, donde Brasil se llevó la medalla de plata.

La madre de Bruno es Vera Mossa, quien compitió en tres olimpiadas con la selección femenina de Brasil. Mossa y Rezende padre se divorciaron cuando Bruno era chico.

Brasil está en la misma zona que Estados Unidos --el último campeón olímpico--, Rusia, Serbia, Alemania y Túnez. Debutará ante Túnez.

Los rivales de Argentina en la fase inicial son Italia, Polonia, Bulgaria y Gran Bretaña, además de Australia.

Más sobre los Juegos Olímpicos
Loading Slideshow...

  • After 68 Days Travelling Around The UK The Olympic Torch Reaches Central London Ahead Of The Opening Ceremony

    LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 26: The Olympic Torch is seen in front of a London Bus as a torch bearer carrries the Olympic Torch through Central London on July 26, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Tom Shaw/Getty Images)

  • After 68 Days Travelling Around The UK The Olympic Torch Reaches Central London Ahead Of The Opening Ceremony

    LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 26: The Olympic Torch is seen in detail as a torch bearer carrries the Olympic Torch through Central London on July 26, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Tom Shaw/Getty Images)

  • After 68 Days Travelling Around The UK The Olympic Torch Reaches Central London Ahead Of The Opening Ceremony

    LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 26: A torch bearer carrries the Olympic Torch on a London Bus through Central London on July 26, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Tom Shaw/Getty Images)

  • The LOCOG handout photo shows torchbearer Fabrice Muamba lightning the cauldron on the Torch Relay leg between the London Boroughs of Tower Hamlets and Hackney Saturday, July 21, 2012. The Flame arrives at the Olympic stadium for the Opening Ceremony on July 27, 2012. (AP Photo/LOCOG, Joe Giddens)

  • Actress Ino Menegaki, acting as high pri

    Actress Ino Menegaki, acting as high priestess holds the torch carrying the Olympic Flame on May 10, 2012 during the lighting ceremony in ancient Olympia the sanctuary where the Olympic Games were born in 776 B.C. The Olympic flame was lit in Ancient Olympia in Greece, in a solemn ceremony filled with mystery and tradition that signals the final countdown to the start of this year's summer Games in London. AFP PHOTO / Aris Messinis (Photo credit should read ARIS MESSINIS/AFP/GettyImages)

  • The photo provided by LOCOG shows torchbearers Nadia Comaneci, right, and John Amaechi posing with the Olympic Torch on the viewing platform of the North Greenwich Arena, London, Saturday, July 21, 2012. (AP Photo/LOCOG, Gareth Fuller)

  • Robin Knox Johnson

    Sir Robin Knox Johnson, 73, right, runs with the Olympic torch past the Cutty Sark ship, Saturday, July 21, 2012, in Greenwich, London. The Olympic Torch arrived in London after it was carried around England in a relay of torchbearers to make its way to the London 2012 Olympic Games opening ceremony on July 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

  • The Olympic Torch Arrives In London

    LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 20: Dame Kelly Holmes lights her torch as Marine Martyn Williams holds the flame during the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay on July 20, 2012 in London, England. The Olympic Flame is now on day 63 of a 70-day relay involving 8,000 torchbearers covering 8,000 miles. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

  • Robin Knox Johnson

    Sir Robin Knox Johnson, 73, runs with the Olympic torch past the Cutty Sark ship, Saturday, July 21, 2012, in Greenwich, London. The Olympic Torch arrived in London after it was carried around England in a relay of torchbearers to make its way to the London 2012 Olympic Games opening ceremony on July 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

  • British Royal Marine Commando Martyn Wil

    British Royal Marine Commando Martyn Williams abseils with the Olympic Flame from a helicopter down to the Tower of London, on July 20, 2012. The Olympic flame made a dramatic arrival in London on Friday to tour the capital before it plays a starring role in the opening ceremony in one week's time. AFP PHOTO / Andrew Cowie (Photo credit should read Andrew Cowie/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Britain's former athlete Dame Kelly Holm

    Britain's former athlete Dame Kelly Holmes poses for pictures after receiving the Olympic Flame at the Tower of London, on July 20, 2012. The Olympic flame made a dramatic arrival in London on Friday to tour the capital before it plays a starring role in the opening ceremony in one week's time. AFP PHOTO / CARL COURT (Photo credit should read CARL COURT/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Actress Ino Menegaki, acting as high pri

    Actress Ino Menegaki, acting as high priestess holds the torch carrying the Olympic Flame on May 10, 2012 during the lighting ceremony in ancient Olympia the sanctuary where the Olympic Games were born in 776 B.C. The Olympic flame was lit in Ancient Olympia in Greece, in a solemn ceremony filled with mystery and tradition that signals the final countdown to the start of this year's summer Games in London. AFP PHOTO / Aris Messinis (Photo credit should read ARIS MESSINIS/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Actress Ino Menegaki, acting as high pri

    Actress Ino Menegaki, acting as high priestess holds an urn carrying the Olympic Flame on May 10, 2012 during the lighting ceremony in ancient Olympia the sanctuary where the Olympic Games were born in 776 B.C. The Olympic flame was lit in Ancient Olympia in Greece, in a solemn ceremony filled with mystery and tradition that signals the final countdown to the start of this year's summer Games in London. AFP PHOTO / Aris Messinis (Photo credit should read ARIS MESSINIS/AFP/GettyImages)

  • The first torch barrier swimmer Spyros G

    The first torch barrier swimmer Spyros Gianniotis runs with the Olympic flame on May 10, 2012 during the lighting ceremony at the ancient site of Olympia, the sanctuary where the Olympic Games were born in 776 B.C. The ceremony marks the start of a week-long torch relay, which will take it to five major Greek archaeological sites, including the Acropolis, before it arrives at the old Olympic stadium in Athens, site of the first modern Games in 1896. AFP PHOTO/ARIS MESSINIS (Photo credit should read ARIS MESSINIS/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Actresses perform during the lighting ce

    Actresses perform during the lighting ceremony on May 10, 2012 in ancient Olympia the sanctuary where the Olympic Games were born in 776 B.C. The Olympic flame was lit in Ancient Olympia in Greece today, in a solemn ceremony filled with mystery and tradition that signals the final countdown to the start of this year's summer Games in London. AFP PHOTO / ARIS MESSINIS (Photo credit should read ARIS MESSINIS/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Actresses, acting as priestesses perform

    Actresses, acting as priestesses perform on May 10, 2012 during the Olympic flame lighting ceremony at the ancient site of Olympia, the sanctuary where the Olympic Games were born in 776 B.C. The ceremony marks the start of a week-long torch relay, which will take it to five major Greek archaeological sites, including the Acropolis, before it arrives at the old Olympic stadium in Athens, site of the first modern Games in 1896. AFP PHOTO / Aris Messinis (Photo credit should read ARIS MESSINIS/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Actress Ino Menegaki, acting as high pri

    Actress Ino Menegaki, acting as high priestess, holds the torch carrying the Olympic Flame on May 10, 2012 during the lighting ceremony in ancient Olympia the sanctuary where the Olympic Games were born in 776 B.C. The Olympic flame was lit in Ancient Olympia in Greece, in a solemn ceremony filled with mystery and tradition that signals the final countdown to the start of this year's summer Games in London. AFP PHOTO / Aris Messinis (Photo credit should read ARIS MESSINIS/AFP/GettyImages)

  • The first torch barrier swimmer Spyros G

    The first torch barrier swimmer Spyros Gianniotis runs with the Olympic flame on May 10, 2012 during the lighting ceremony at the ancient site of Olympia, the sanctuary where the Olympic Games were born in 776 B.C. The ceremony marks the start of a week-long torch relay, which will take it to five major Greek archaeological sites, including the Acropolis, before it arrives at the old Olympic stadium in Athens, site of the first modern Games in 1896. AFP PHOTO / Angelos Tzortzinis (Photo credit should read ANGELOS TZORTZINIS/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Actress Ino Menegaki, acting as high pri

    Actress Ino Menegaki, acting as high priestess, passes the Olympic flame to the first torch bearer, swimmer Spyros Gianniotis on May 10, 2012 during the lighting ceremony at the ancient site of Olympia the sanctuary where the Olympic Games were born in 776 B.C. The ceremony marks the start of a week-long torch relay, which will take it to five major Greek archaeological sites, including the Acropolis, before it arrives at the old Olympic stadium in Athens, site of the first modern Games in 1896. AFP PHOTO / Angelos Tzortzinis (Photo credit should read ANGELOS TZORTZINIS/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Actresses perform a Greek ancient dance

    Actresses perform a Greek ancient dance during the lighting ceremony on May 10, 2012 in ancient Olympia the sanctuary where the Olympic Games were born in 776 B.C. The Olympic flame was lit in Ancient Olympia in Greece, in a solemn ceremony filled with mystery and tradition that signals the final countdown to the start of this year's summer Games in London. AFP PHOTO / Angelos Tzortzinis (Photo credit should read ANGELOS TZORTZINIS/AFP/GettyImages)