RIO DE JANEIRO (Rio 2016 Olympic Games) - It's not every day that an athlete walks into an Olympic Stadium to take part in an Opening Ceremony for a Summer Games.

So despite the need to focus and get ready for the following day's game against Serbia, the center of underdogs Venezuela, Gregory Echenique, isn't about to pass on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"I think Venezuelan basketball the past few years has definitely improved. We've earned the respect from a lot of people and winning the Americas, the South American tournaments, that's something that's never been done before in Venezuela." - Echenique

"I think everyone is anxious to play," he said to FIBA.com. "We want to practice, we want to stay focused. I think talking with the guys, everybody really wants to stay focused.

"Personally, I am looking forward to the Opening Ceremony. I think it's one of the most iconic, big parts of the Olympics, regardless of who plays the next day.

"So, hopefully there's not a lot of walking and waiting and stuff. I think we'll be fine. I think everything has sunk in and we’re ready to go."

The Rio de Janeiro Games is an entirely new experience for Echenique and the current generation of Venezuela players. The country last took part in a Summer Games 24 years ago in Barcelona.

"Usually you play to qualify for something," Echenique said. "Now, this is it, basically the top of the top or whatever you want to call it. I'm just excited to be here and get to experience this. Hopefully we can continue making history by making it to the next round.

The friendly results against other countries taking part in the Olympics haven't been good for Venezuela, yet that's not necessarily a bad thing. The Vintotinto took their lumps last year in the build-up to the FIBA Americas Championship but then, when the real games started in Mexico City, they were ready to go.

Though Echenique was hurt and unable to play, Venezuela dug in a upset Canada to clinch a spot in the Rio Games. They then beat Argentina to lift the title.

"It's been tough, a lot of traveling to Europe back and forth, but I'm glad I got that experience of playing against teams like Lithuania and Spain, great teams in South America as well so it's been great for me," he said.

Venezuela are widely viewed as underdogs in Brazil. To have a chance of getting into the top four and advancing, they are going to need a couple of wins.

Not only will they have to defeat China but also spring an upset against Serbia, France, Australia or the USA.

If Venezuela's fans are wondering what advantage their team may have, it may be in the coaching department.

Nestor 'Che' Garcia has won a lot of admirers as coach of Venezuela and also a leading club in the country, Guaros de Lara, a team he led to the FIBA Americas League crown earlier this year.

"I think coach definitely, when we've played in South American tournaments, he's been there and done that," Echenique said.

"At Guaros, we played the FIBA Americas League and it wasn't his first rodeo.

"He's such an experienced coach and knows a lot about European basketball, different styles. It's not like he's locked into one style of basketball and he doesn't know what people do on the other side of the world so I think that makes him a really good coach when it comes down to strategy and the game plan."

No matter what happens this month in Rio, Echenique believes Venezuela will have much to be proud of and a lot to be encouraged by.

"I think Venezuelan basketball the past few years has definitely improved," he said. "We've earned the respect from a lot of people and winning the Americas, the South American tournaments, that's something that's never been done before in Venezuela.

"I'm glad to be a part of that, glad to be a part of the best generation of players that we've ever had in Venezuelan basketball."

FIBA