Boxers, Harrington & Irvine, Will Carry The Irish Flag At The Olympics Opening Ceremony.

Tuesday, 20 July 2021 09:32

All countries have been invited to nominate a male and a female athlet

Boxers Kellie Harrington and Brendan Irvine have been selected to carry the Irish flag at the Olympics Opening Ceremony in Tokyo.

This year all countries have been invited to nominate a male and a female athlete, in a move for gender equality.

🇮🇪 Flying the Flag 🇮🇪

A proud day for all of the Irish Boxing Family as @weerooster & @Kelly64kg have officially been selected as flagbearers for #TeamIreland in the opening ceremony at #Tokyo2020

The ceremony will begin at 12:00 (GMT) on July 23

Congrats Brendan & Kellie!🇮🇪🥊 pic.twitter.com/BPOvVU6ZyF
— Boxing Ireland (@IABABOXING) July 20, 2021

2018 world lightweight champion Harrington is among Ireland's best medal prospects in Tokyo, in what will be her maiden Games.

Irvine is going into his second Olympics, having boxed in Rio in 2016.

Harrington says she's "absolutely honoured" to have been picked and that the Olympics is the "pinnacle of the sport" for boxing.

The Irish Athletic Boxing Association says its "a proud day for all of the Irish Boxing Family"

Half of the 116 strong Irish team have now arrived in Tokyo, with the rowing team the first in action on Thursday.

The Opening Ceremony will take place this Friday at midday, Irish time.