Women鈥檚 basketball player Miranda Ayim and men鈥檚 rugby sevens player Nathan Hirayama have been named Canada鈥檚 flag-bearers for the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics.

They are the first members of a team sport to be chosen to lead Canada鈥檚 athletes into a Summer Olympic Games.

鈥淚 feel so honoured to represent Team Canada and lead Team Canada in the opening ceremony alongside Nate,鈥� Ayim said Monday in a video conference. 鈥淭his past year and a half has demanded a high level of teamwork, and Canadians from coast to coast to coast stepped up and demonstrated togetherness, resilience and solidarity.鈥�

The opening ceremony will take place Friday.

Tokyo will be the third and final Games for Ayim, who made her Olympic debut at London 2012 and announced she would be retiring after Tokyo.

Ayim and the fourth-ranked women鈥檚 basketball team start their quest for Canada鈥檚 first ever medal in the sport next Monday.

Hirayama is co-captain of Canada鈥檚 men鈥檚 rugby sevens team and helped the squad capture two gold medals and a silver at the last three Pan American Games.

Canada鈥檚 men鈥檚 sevens team is making its Olympic debut in Tokyo and starts play Sunday.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a massive honour to be asked to do this, especially alongside someone as decorated and (who) has had the kind of career Miranda has had,鈥� Hirayama said. 鈥淰ery excited to get over there with my squad and get into these Games.鈥�

The reveal of Canada鈥檚 flag-bearers was made Monday morning by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

鈥淢iranda and Nathan are leaders on their respective teams,鈥� Trudeau said. 鈥淭hey embody the resilience, perseverance and excellence of Team Canada.鈥�

Trampoline champion Rosie MacLennan carried the Canadian flag at the opening ceremony of the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Women鈥檚 hockey star Hayley Wickenheiser was the last member of a team sport to carry the Maple Leaf in any Olympic ceremony, opening the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. Women鈥檚 soccer captain Christine Sinclair, who held the flag at the 2012 London Olympics, was the last at a Summer Games.

The Canadian Press

Like us on and follow us on .

Want to support local journalism? Make a donation