Olympic Games sprint relay silver medalist Marc Burns will have the honour of carrying the T&T flag at the parade of nations during the opening ceremony of the Games of the 30th Olympiad in London on Friday.
Burns, 29, will be making his fourth appearance at an Olympic Games. He made his Olympic debut at the Sydney Olympics at the age of 17years.
One of T and T's most consistent athletes in the history of local sport the 2008 Beijing Olympics 100m finalist made his national representative debut at age 15 at the Carifta games. He has since represented T and T with distinction at junior, collegiate and senior levels in the process winning medals at national, regional, continental, world and Olympic Games.
Burns has in his cabinet three world championship sprint relay silver medals and a Commonwealth games individual sprint medal in addition to two world junior individual sprint medals( silver and bronze).
A three time world outdoor championship sprint finalist he was also a finalist in the 2012 world indoor championship 60 m final. The former TTOC sportsman of the year is well respected.
A longstanding tradition that is still retained by a number of National Olympic Committees (NOCs):
Every four years, the identity of the flag bearer for the Olympic Games team is a closely guarded secret.
Selecting the flag bearer is the prerogative of the Games chef de mission to make the choice.
Commenting on the selection T and T chef de mission Annette Knott said that Marc Burns embodies the Olympic spirit, values and ideals.
“A quiet and dignified gentleman who always gives his best for his country. His consistency, dedication, integrity and selfless patriotism have been exemplary. He has earned the honour of leading T and T during the London 2012 Parade of Nations."
TTOC president Larry Romany concurred with the views of Mrs. Knott.
“I was chef de mission at the Sydney Olympics when the then 17 year old Marc made his Olympic debut. Over the years it has been a privilege to work with Marc. He is a class act who has never failed to answer the call be it CAC, Pan Am, Commonwealth or Olympic Games. “Said Romany