Sir Chris Hoy to carry British flag at Olympic opening ceremony
July 23rd, 2012
Sir Chris Hoy has been selected to carry the Union Jack flag for Great Britain at the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic games.
The four-time Olympic gold medal winner received the most number of votes from the 542 members of the British team.
Sir Chris Hoy has been selected to carry the Union Jack flag for Great Britain at the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic games.
The four-time Olympic gold medal winner received the most number of votes from the 542 members of the British team.
This will be the second time that the 36-year-old has carried the flag at a games; the first was at the closing ceremony of 2008 Olympic games in Beijing.
“I’m absolutely delighted and honoured to have been voted as the flag bearer for Team GB,” said Hoy.
“To lead out your team at a home Olympics is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity and one that that I can’t wait to experience in just a few days time.”
Hoy, who will compete in the team sprint and keirin events at London 2012, is the first cyclist to carry the British flag at an opening ceremony.
The Scottish rider will lead out the British team when they become the last of 204 competing nations to enter the Arena.
Brian Cookson, president of British Cycling, told BBC Sport: “Just when you think it can’t get any better it does. It is the cherry on the cake for British Cycling after Bradley Wiggins’s success on Sunday.”
Hoy will compete in the games in the second week where he will try and surpass rower Sir Steve Redgrave’s record of five gold medals.