Boxers Kellie Harrington and Brendan Irvine, who have been announced as Team Ireland flagbearers for the Opening Ceremony. Photo by Brendan Moran/SportsfileKELLIE HARRINGTON and Brendan Irvine will be following in the footsteps of some of Ireland’s legendary boxers when they carry the Irish flag in the athlete’s parade at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympic Games at noon on Friday (Irish time). All participating nations were asked to nominate a male and female athlete to carry the flag as part of the IOC’s gender-balance policy. The other Irish fighters who have carried the flag at opening ceremonies were Matt Flanagan (1928), Tony ‘Socks’ Byrne (1956), Jim McCourt (1968), Wayne McCullough (1988), Francie Barrett (1996), Katie Taylor (2012) and Paddy Barnes (2016). “It’s an amazing honour, there are so many athletes out here, and to be chosen as one of the flag-bearers is absolutely fantastic.

Source: Irish Independent July 21, 2021 01:39 UTC