Star kayaker Adam van Koeverden will serve as Canada's flag-bearer for the 2008 Beijing Games, the Canadian Olympic Committee announced Wednesday.
The 26-year-old, from Oakville, Ont., is one of Canada's top medal hopefuls in Beijing.
"I don't see it so much as leading but as representing," van Koeverden told reporters Wednesday. "We're all marching in together. Everybody's a leader."
The opening ceremonies will be held Aug. 8 at the Beijing National Stadium.
"I'm more than honoured and privileged. It fills me with so much pride to (carry the flag)," said van Koeverden . "I can't wait."
He said it was a "great feeling" to represent his sport, the Canadian team, and everyone back in Canada.
In 2004, at the Summer Games in Athens, van Koeverden won gold and bronze medals in flatwater kayaking.
He also had the honour of carrying the flag at the closing ceremony for the Games.
"Adam typifies the Canadian Olympic Committee's passion for sport excellence and integrity, and represents Canada with pride on every occasion," COC president Michael Chambers, himself a former competitive paddler, said Wednesday.
There were several other candidates up for the honour, including equestrian Ian Millar, diver Alexandre Despatie, triathlete Simon Whitfield and trampoline star Karen Cockburn.
The 2008 Canadian Olympic Team is made up of 331 athletes -- a significant increase over the 265 who competed in Athens. The growth is due in part to an increase in team sports -- five in total -- that qualified for the Games.
Three team sports participating in Beijing -- men's baseball, men's water polo and women's softball squads -- also took part in Athens. The two new qualifying teams are men's field hockey and women's soccer.
Van Koeverden was picked as Canada's flag bearer by a selection committee.
Judoka Nicolas Gill carried the Canadian flag at the opening ceremony in Athens. Hockey player Danielle Goyette was the flag-bearer at the 2006 Winter Games in Turin, Italy.
With files from The Canadian Press
