Olympic gold medallists Helen Glover MBE and Tom Daley OBE have been announced as Team GB’s Opening Ceremony flag bearers for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The pair will carry the Union Flag on behalf of the team at this Friday’s flotilla procession down the River Seine, after they were invited to do so by Team GB’s Chef de Mission Mark England at the team reception at the British Embassy this evening.
Helen Glover is a double gold medal winning rower who, at the age of 38, will be attending her fourth Olympic Games. At the London 2012 Games, Glover won the women’s coxless pairs alongside Heather Stanning, before the pair retained the title four years later in Rio de Janeiro.
After taking time out of the sport to start a family, she returned as a mother of three to row for Team GB at the Tokyo 2020 Games, and Glover will compete at her fourth Olympics in Paris as part of the women’s four.
She said: “This is probably the biggest honour of my life. I just love the Olympics and have always loved what it stood for. I still pinch myself that I am an Olympian, being a flagbearer and going down in history.
“I’ve never been to an Opening Ceremony before and I’ll be carrying the flag at my first one.. It’s unbelievable to be in this position.
“The team is full of amazing stories and inspirational people, so to be representing every athlete’s individual story when I stand there is really important to me.”
Tom Daley captured the hearts of the nation when he made his debut for Team GB at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at the age of just 14.
Since then, he has gone on to claim three bronze medals and a memorable gold medal alongside Matty Lee in the men’s synchronised 10m platform at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. In Paris he will compete at his fifth Olympic Games alongside Noah Williams in the same event.
The 30-year-old dad of two was honoured with an OBE in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to diving, LGBTQ+ rights and charity.
He said: “To be asked to be flag bearer is one of the greatest honours in my Olympic diving career. To be able to do it in my fifth Olympic Games and have my family here is a very special thing.
“It has always been a dream of mine, since I was a little kid. I remember in 2008 walking out behind the flag bearer right in the front line, because we were the smallest group of people, and to now be one of the two people to lead out the team is such a huge honour.
“If my dad was around now, he would be so incredibly proud, because he always said that you would know you have cemented your Olympic legacy if you are asked to be a flag bearer at an Olympic Games.”
Team GB Chef de Mission Mark England added: “Tom and Helen exemplify and embody the values of Team GB and our great country. They are dedicated, hard-working, talented athletes, who have achieved greatness in their sports and have captured the affection of the nation in doing so. They are both truly proud to wear the Union Flag and I’ve had the pleasure of seeing that first hand at every Olympic Games they have attended. It is an absolute privilege to name them as flag bearers for Team GB at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.”
Tom Daley becomes the first diver to ever carry the Union Flag at an Olympic Ceremony and the first athlete from aquatics since the swimmer Mark Foster in 2008 whilst Helen Glover becomes the first female rower to carry the flag for Team GB since the ritual was introduced to the Games in 1908.
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will be the second Games at which the Opening Ceremony has featured two flag carriers following on from Tokyo 2020.