Simon Whitfield, Ian Millar and Clara Hughues. THE CANADIAN PRESS/CP,AP files
July 12, 2012 - 4:00 AM
The athlete granted the honour of carrying the Canadian flag in the opening ceremonies for the London Olympics will be named today on Parliament Hill.
The candidates include a host of well-known athletes such as triathlete Simon Whitfield of Victoria, veteran show jumper Ian Millar of Perth, Ont., and champion cyclist Clara Hughes of Glen Sutton, Que.
Other potential flag-bearers include cyclist Catharine Pendrel, trampolinist Karen Cockburn, women's soccer captain Christine Sinclair, tennis player Daniel Nestor and diver Alexandre Despatie.
However, Despatie — a two-time Olympic silver medallist — recently said he would decline any offer to carry the flag in the ceremony on July 27.
Sinclair is also doubtful because the soccer is unlikely to march in the opening ceremonies as they play their second game of the tournament, versus South Africa, the following afternoon.
Whitfield won a gold medal for Canada at the 2000 Sydney Games where triathlon made its debut, then captured a silver at the 2008 Beijing Games.
Kayaker Adam van Koeverden carried Canada's flag in the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, while speedskater Clara Hughes had the honour at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2012