Women's basketball player Miranda Ayim and men's rugby sevens player Nathan Hirayama have been named Canada's flag-bearers for the Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics.
The reveal of who would lead Canada into the Games was made Monday morning by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Ready to see who will be holding the #TeamCanada flag at the #Tokyo2020 Opening Ceremony?
Here is Prime Minister @JustinTrudeau with the reveal pic.twitter.com/YExmszcKio— Team Canada (@TeamCanada) July 19, 2021
It is the first time that a duo from different sports will carry the Canadian flag into the opening ceremony. Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue led Canada into the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics while Rosie MacLennan carried the Canadian flag at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Ayim is participating in her third Olympics with the senior women's national team and plans to retire after Tokyo. Canada ranks fourth in the world by FIBA heading into Tokyo.
“I feel incredibly honoured to lead Team Canada alongside Nathan into the Opening Ceremony and to be representing not only my fellow athletes of Team Canada, but also the greater Team Canada: our nation,” Ayim said in a statement. “The past year and a half demanded a high level of teamwork and Canadians from coast-to-coast-to-coast demonstrated togetherness, camaraderie and sacrifice — true team spirit.”
The women's basketball tournament tips off on July 26 when Canada takes on Serbia at 4:20 a.m. ET with the gold-medal game on Aug. 8.
Hirayama made his debut for Canada's national sevens team in 2006 as an 18-year-old and will now lead the team as captain. The Canadian men's team failed to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics but won two gold medals and a silver at the last three Pan American Games.
“I feel hugely honoured to be nominated to be the flag bearer alongside Miranda,” said Hirayama. “I’ve been watching the Olympics for my entire life and understand the honour and privilege that comes with being the flag bearer. It’s something that I’ve never even dreamt of. I’m extremely excited to get to Tokyo with my team. We’ve been working hard together for a long time and can’t wait for our opportunity to show the world what we can do.”
The men's sevens team goes up against Britain and defending champion Fiji in a pair of opening matches on July 26 with the medal round being handed out on July 28.
