Seems an odd choice. Sure, he’s famous and at the top of his sport and has an Olympic gold medal (from his only Olympics though I think?), but surely we must have other multi-Olympic and/or multiple medallists who would be a more suitable choice?

Each sport nominates someone and the BOC decide who of those it will be. FWIW, it’s been reported that Wiggo turned down the UK Cycling nomination, saying it should be a female rider (Trott for me).

He played in Beijing

a more suitable choice?

Why is Andy Murray unsuitable?

Bit windy out today innit. Not really sure what to have for tea.

Seems an odd choice

I don’t think so,who would you suggest?

Why is one of our top sportsman, now a 3 time olympian and gold medal winner unsuitable…

Explain to me why Wiggo or trott would be any more suitable?

Trott may have turned it down because she didn’t want to spend hours on her feet carrying a flag a few days before she’s competing?

(She’s my favourite too, but Andy’s a fair choice)

He’s pretty good with a bat in his hand so a flag shouldn’t cause him any problem. Has the stamina for long 5 set matches too, so should be able to handle the opening ceremony duration.

UK is one of the last in, so not that much opening ceremony duration to worry about?

The way rio is going maybe the harder job is for the archers and shooters working double time as body guards

Explain to me why Wiggo or trott would be any more suitable?

The OP is a cyclist therefor cyclists must feature in EVERYTHING, no other sport is as important. Surely every single member of the public should be up in arms about the decision, it’s shocking.

We want a cyclist, we want a cyclist, we want a cyclist.

Open your eyes OP, there’s a whole other world out there with other stuff going on.

Would it not be sensible to have some no-hoper as flag bearer rather than a medal hopeful? Taking on that fatigue and risk of injury seems a bit silly to me. Maybe one of the support staff even? Does it need to be an athlete?

He played in Beijing

Did he? Fair enough.

Why is Andy Murray unsuitable?

Why is one of our top sportsman, now a 3 time olympian and gold medal winner unsuitable…

I didn’t say unsuitable, I said there must be others who are more suitable, because:

– they’ve represented their country at more Olympic games than Murray
and/or
– they’ve been more successful at the Olympics than Murray

and has he been to 3 Olympics. Again, if so, fair enough, my ignorance.

I don’t think so,who would you suggest?

The obvious choice is Wiggo, but he’s reported to have turned it down. I also bet we have people in more ‘minority’ sports, like shooting or something, who are multiple winners at multiple Games. Part of me thinks it would be more in the Olympic spirit to celebrate those achievements.

And, if I’m honest, I think it should probably be a woman, given that it’s nearly always a fella.

UK is one of the last in, so not that much opening ceremony duration to worry about?

You know what BC are like though.

will also depend when peoples events are. people competing early probably wont be at the ceremony at all so are out of the reckoning. fwiw I was surprised it wasn’t ennis but murray is an entirely worthy choice

I’d have rolled a (very big) dice and picked one at random on the day, and made it a surprise both for them and whomever commentates on the gogglebox.

And, if I’m honest, I think it should probably be a woman, given that it’s nearly always a fella.

Maybe it’s quite a heavy flag. If we were out and about with one I’m pretty sure Mrs B would make me carry it.

I was surprised it wasn’t ennis but murray is an entirely worthy choice

If you had to toss it like a javelin then Ennis would be a better choice. But holding on to it and waving it about a bit, give it to Murray.

The OP is a cyclist therefor cyclists must feature in EVERYTHING, no other sport is as important. Surely every single member of the public should be up in arms about the decision, it’s shocking.

We want a cyclist, we want a cyclist, we want a cyclist.

Open your eyes OP, there’s a whole other world out there with other stuff going on.

Tell you what Sweetcheeks, why don’t you read what I’ve posted, and then respond.

If you had to toss it like a javelin then Ennis would be a better choice. But holding on to it and waving it about a bit, give it to Murray.

There’s a strand of logic there that I find irresistible 😆

Tell you what Sweetcheeks, why don’t you read what I’ve posted, and then respond.

Okay, will do……scrolls to top of page, reads post, responds

The OP is a cyclist therefor cyclists must feature in EVERYTHING, no other sport is as important. Surely every single member of the public should be up in arms about the decision, it’s shocking.

We want a cyclist, we want a cyclist, we want a cyclist.

Open your eyes OP, there’s a whole other world out there with other stuff going on.

There’s a strand of logic there that I find irresistible

Re-reading my post… 😆

Didn’t they ask Lizzie Armistead first but she missed the call and wasn’t in when they knocked on?

UK is one of the last in, so not that much opening ceremony duration to worry about?

Don’t we come in at G?

I would have liked to see Nicola Adams lead the team out myself, she is way to cheerful and that would normally make me dislike her, bust she somehow gets away with it.

Murray isn’t a bad choice, but I agree with Wiggo’s point that it should really have been a women.

ps also I don’t really recall it being “announced” at past olympics.

Nicola Adams would be a good choice. Bit like Hoy. She’s a fair bit smaller but no one’s going to mess with GB if she’s leading us out.

Seems an odd choice

I don’t think so,who would you suggest?

ads678 – Member

UK is one of the last in, so not that much opening ceremony duration to worry about?

Don’t we come in at G?

According to this we’re in at 81 of 207 teams…..

gold and silver medal winner, instantly recognised all over the world. hasn’t turned it down…

seems a reasonable choice to me

All about promoting the country globally, so you pick the most obvious high profile sports star to lead you out. Simples.

Whoever said Laura Trott, who’s she? Seriously she is hardly known in the UK let alone globally.

I thought Ennis too – if only to redress the terrible male domination of the GB flag wafting role. But a lot of the wk2 athletes don’t rock up until after the opening ceremony so maybe that’s the reason.

The wafter should be from a sport where the olympics is the biggest competition in the sport and that would usually put tennis players out of contention for me; but clearly Murray is big into representing his country so he’s an ok exception to the rule in my book.

if only to redress the terrible male domination of the GB flag wafting role.

…..

Why did you do that – I’m eating!

I would have preferred a more traditional UK Olympian being the flag bearer, given how Chris Hoy did London, maybe a female athlete this time as Wiggo suggested eg. Jade Jones (who won gold in Taekwondo at london against the odds and is now #1 ranked in her weight class).

Andy Murray is a great tennis player, but I feel it somehow commercialises the role with him carrying the flag, he must earn masses of dough compared to any other individual in the UK Olympic team.

(am disapointed ) With all the BREXIT fiasco I was expecting…

instantly recognised all over the world.

Thats probably the clincher. There are plenty of uk competitors that we in the UK associate more with the olympics but not many of them will be as recognisable a UK sports personality internationally.

Oh dear…

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/video/2016/aug/04/andy-murray-struggles-with-flag-at-olympic-photoshoot-video

Still time to sub him?

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYU-SeVofHs[/video]