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Dave Ryding named as Team GB Flagbearer alongside Eve Muirhead

Team GB have today announced that Alpine Skier Dave Ryding and Curler Eve Muirhead will carry the Union Flag at the Beijing 2022 Opening Ceremony

Four-time Olympian and Britain’s first ever Alpine World Cup winner, Dave Ryding, will carry the flag for Team GB at the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing tomorrow alongside Curler, Eve Muirhead.

Ryding, whose selection for the Beijing Games marks his fourth appearance at the Olympic Winter Games, will be joined by Muirhead as Britain’s flag carrier as the Games formally opens tomorrow afternoon.

The 35-year-old recently made history as the first British skier ever to win a FIS World Cup race with his victory at Kitzbuehel last month, and in Beijing will be looking to improve on his previous best Olympic result of ninth at the PyeongChang Games in 2018.

As one of Britain’s foremost winter sports athletes, Ryding was selected for Team GB as one of 21 GB Snowsport ski and snowboard athletes, and forms part of the four-person Alpine squad alongside Charlie Guest, Billy Major, and Alex Tilley.

Discussing his role as Flag Bearer, Dave said:

“As a British Olympian, it is the greatest honour to be asked to carry our country’s flag. Many amazing athletes have been chosen to do this role in the past and it goes without saying that it is one of the proudest moments of my career.

“I have always represented Team GB with the greatest of pride and for my fourth Olympics this will make it extra special. I am one of 50 Winter Olympians representing Team GB in Beijing, we are part of an amazing country and I know we will give our utmost to perform to the best of our abilities out here.”

Team GB Chef de Mission for Beijing 2022, Georgina Harland, said:

“It’s a great privilege to confirm two such deserving athletes to carry the Union flag at the Opening Ceremony on Friday. It was a great honour to speak to both of them and to hear their excitement about the prospect of marching at the head of the delegation.

“Eve and Dave have earned this opportunity, not just for their performances on the field of play over the last four Olympic Games, ​and in the lead-up to these Games, but the brilliant role models and people they are. I hope their moment as flagbearers will be everything they hope it to be.”

The Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games Opening Ceremony gets underway tomorrow (Friday 4 February) at 12pm UK time, and will be broadcast live on the BBC and Eurosport.

Header Image: Dave Ryding with the Union Flag at the Beijing Olympic Winter Games