World No.2 Andy Murray has been chosen to carry the flag for Great Britain during the opening ceremony at the Rio Olympics.
The defending Olympic champion is the 26th British athlete in history to carry his country’s flag at the four-year sporting extravaganza. Murray has also become the first British tennis player in history to be handed the responsibility.
“I am very proud to be selected as the Team GB Flag Bearer for the Opening Ceremony on Friday. To represent your country at the Games is an unbelievable experience, but to lead out Team GB will be an incredible honour, the biggest in sport.” Murray said.
“The privilege of being the Flag bearer is a moment I will remember for the rest of my life and will certainly be one of the highlights of my career.” He later added.
In Rio de Janeiro, Murray will have the chance to book his place in the Olympic record books. He is bidding to become the first man to successfully defend his Olympic title in the singles. Rio will be Murray’s third Olympic Games.
The Wimbledon champion was selected for the role ahead of boxer Nicola Adams, who would have been Britain’s first ever black athlete to carry the flag, and four-time Olympic medallist Katherine Grainger.
Murray isn’t the only tennis player carrying their country’s flag in the ceremony on Friday. Rafael Nadal will conduct the honours for Spain and Caroline Wozniacki will do the same for Denmark.
.@andy_murray will proudly carry our #GBR flag during the #OpeningCeremony! #Rio2016 #BringOnTheGreat pic.twitter.com/fSwsRkDqie
— Team GB (@TeamGB) 3 August 2016
