Related News
Hughes to carry flag for largest Canadian team
Source: Agencies |
January 30, 2010, Saturday
|
Online Edition
Online Edition
SPEED skater Clara Hughes, the only Canadian to win medals at both the Summer and Winter Games, has been selected to carry her country's flag into the opening ceremony for next month's 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.
The announcement highlighted the unveiling of the largest ever Canadian Winter Games team yesterday, with the 206 athletes set an ambitious target of putting the host nation on top of the medals table.
A five-time Olympian with five medals, Hughes will defend the 5,000 metres title she won at the Turin Games, where she also took a silver in the team pursuit.
The 37-year-old Winnipeg native was also a bronze medallist in the 5,000m at the 2002 at Salt Lake City Olympics and won bronze medals in cycling's road race and time trial at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games.
Only four athletes have both Summer and Winter Olympic medals in their trophy cases.
Hughes, who speaks both of Canada's official languages English and French, is equally admired for her humanitarian work as her athletic accomplishments, donating $10,000 to the Right to Play organisation after her gold medal victory in Turin.
GREATEST HONOUR
"To all of Canada this is our time," a beaming Hughes told a large crowd of media following the official announcement made at City Hall in Richmond, B.C., not far from the speed skating oval where she will try to add to her medal total.
"This is without a doubt the greatest honour of my sporting life. For 20 years I've had the privilege of representing Canada around the globe, first on the bike and then on my blades the experiences have shaped me into who I am today," she added.
"I am so honoured to lead this Canadian Olympic team."
While carrying your nation's flag at an Olympic opening ceremony is considered one of sport's greatest honours, it is often one athletes have not always embraced.
Hughes removed her name from consideration in Turin because she was recovering from illness and wanted to focus her energy on the upcoming competition.
The decision drew the wrath of some commentators but this time Hughes did not hesitate, saying it was the highlight of her athletic career.
"I really didn't feel I had a choice," Hughes said. "Deep inside instinctually I knew if I was asked I would say yes because this is really a chance of a lifetime."
The opening ceremonies, the first for a Winter Games to be staged indoors, are scheduled for Feb. 12 when Hughes will lead a team into BC Place that hopefully will include the athlete expected give Canada an historic first gold medal.
Twice before Canada has hosted Olympics, the 1976 Montreal Summer Games and the Calgary Winter Games in 1988 but have yet to celebrate a gold medal victory on home soil.
The announcement highlighted the unveiling of the largest ever Canadian Winter Games team yesterday, with the 206 athletes set an ambitious target of putting the host nation on top of the medals table.
A five-time Olympian with five medals, Hughes will defend the 5,000 metres title she won at the Turin Games, where she also took a silver in the team pursuit.
The 37-year-old Winnipeg native was also a bronze medallist in the 5,000m at the 2002 at Salt Lake City Olympics and won bronze medals in cycling's road race and time trial at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games.
Only four athletes have both Summer and Winter Olympic medals in their trophy cases.
Hughes, who speaks both of Canada's official languages English and French, is equally admired for her humanitarian work as her athletic accomplishments, donating $10,000 to the Right to Play organisation after her gold medal victory in Turin.
GREATEST HONOUR
"To all of Canada this is our time," a beaming Hughes told a large crowd of media following the official announcement made at City Hall in Richmond, B.C., not far from the speed skating oval where she will try to add to her medal total.
"This is without a doubt the greatest honour of my sporting life. For 20 years I've had the privilege of representing Canada around the globe, first on the bike and then on my blades the experiences have shaped me into who I am today," she added.
"I am so honoured to lead this Canadian Olympic team."
While carrying your nation's flag at an Olympic opening ceremony is considered one of sport's greatest honours, it is often one athletes have not always embraced.
Hughes removed her name from consideration in Turin because she was recovering from illness and wanted to focus her energy on the upcoming competition.
The decision drew the wrath of some commentators but this time Hughes did not hesitate, saying it was the highlight of her athletic career.
"I really didn't feel I had a choice," Hughes said. "Deep inside instinctually I knew if I was asked I would say yes because this is really a chance of a lifetime."
The opening ceremonies, the first for a Winter Games to be staged indoors, are scheduled for Feb. 12 when Hughes will lead a team into BC Place that hopefully will include the athlete expected give Canada an historic first gold medal.
Twice before Canada has hosted Olympics, the 1976 Montreal Summer Games and the Calgary Winter Games in 1988 but have yet to celebrate a gold medal victory on home soil.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
