Gay diver Tom Daley has been chosen as one of Great Britain’s flagbearers at the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on Friday.
Four-time Olympic medallist Daley, 30, said “I am extremely proud. Being able to be flagbearer at the opening ceremony is a dream come true,” Daley told BBC Sport.
Daley is set to become the first British diver to compete in five Games, having come out of retirement to compete in Tokyo three years ago, where he won a gold medal.
An Olympian at the age of just 14 at Beijing 2008, Daley won gold to add to three bronze medals he has achieved in individual and synchronised 10 metre events.
The Paris 2024 opening ceremony, held on the River Seine, takes place on Friday, 26 July. Each national delegation, totalling around 10,500 athletes, will travel on boats along the river.
“This Olympics is something I would consider to be a bonus Olympics,” said Daley, whose son, Robbie, convinced him to return.
“This Olympics has been about enjoying it, embracing every moment and taking everything in as much as I can. To be flagbearer too is just the icing on the cake.”
Joining Daley will be two-time Olympic champion Helen Glover, 38, who is competing at her fourth Games and said carrying the British flag would be “the biggest honour of my life”.
