Wheelchair rugby player and four-time Paralympian Greg Smith will carry the Australian flag into the London 2012 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony on August 29.
The honour of flag bearer was given to Smith, from Victoria, during a special ceremony for the Australian Paralympic Team at Cardiff Castle in Wales.
With more than 260 members of the 305-strong Australian Paralympic Team watching on, Smith received the flag from chef de mission Jason Hellwig.
In eight days time, he will perform the same duty in front of 80,000 people as he leads the Australian team into London's Paralympic stadium.
"I'm thrilled, absolutely thrilled," he said.
"I'm so proud to be an Australian Paralympian and to be given the honour of leading this team into the opening ceremony is definitely one of the highlights.
"I will never forget this moment."
In announcing that the honour would go to Smith, who has won a career total of three Paralympic gold, two silver and two bronze medals in two different sports, Hellwig said he would be hugely proud to march behind him in the opening ceremony.
"Greg embodies the virtues of the Australian Paralympic movement to the very highest standards," Hellwig said.
He is team-orientated and humble, but fierce in the heat of competitive battle and enormously successful in his chosen disciplines."
Article extracted from SBS to read the article please visit http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1684577/Greg-Smith-to-carry-Aussie-flag-for-Paras
Last Modified on 22/08/2012 08:35