HOY TO CARRY FLAG AT OLYMPICS CLOSING CEREMONY

Chris Hoy Olympic Games 2008

Olympics homepage>>

Great Britain?s single most successful medallist of the Beijing Olympics, triple gold medallist Chris Hoy, will carry the flag at the closing ceremony on Sunday.

?It?s a huge honour,? the most successful Scottish Olympian in history recognised at a final GB team press conference on Sunday morning, ?particularly when you consider the standard of the squad.?

?All of the GB team has achieved way beyond their expectations, we knew it was possible but you?ve still got to do it first.?

?As for carrying the flag, it?s going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, a fantastic end to an amazing few weeks.?

Great Britain?s success in Beijing means the athletes will fly home with no less than 47 medals, the best result since 1908. Cycling has contributed nearly a third of that total, with 14 medals, although GB athletes have taken medals in 11 out of 20 sports.

GB Olympic chef de mission in Beijing Simon Clegg pointed out in his closing speech that Nicole Cooke?s gold medal was Great Britain?s 200th at Olympic level and that her early victory ?helped us all stay motivated throughout the whole of the Games.?

?Rebecca Romero is the first British woman athlete ever to take an Olympic medal in two different sports, and of course Chris Hoy is Great Britain?s first triple gold medallist in an Olympics since 1908.?

Looking ahead towards 2012, Clegg pointed out that if British success was high in Beijing, the ?London factor? in four years time could push the bar even higher.

?There are nine million tickets to be sold for British people to see British athelete in British venues. That?s going to be a huge morale boost for all our teams.?

Swipe to scroll horizontally
OLYMPIC GAMES 2008: TRACK

Track day five in pictures

Track day five summary

Wiggins and Cav miss out in Madison

Gold for Hoy and Pendleton, silver for Kenny

Track day four in pictures

Preview: Day five at the Laoshan

Brad on Cav: He's like a schoolkid he's so up for it

Day four as it happened: Team pursuit gold and another world record

Day three summary: Gold for Romero. Pendleton, Hoy in charge in sprints. Kenny the revelation

From rower to cyclist: Romero takes an emotional gold

Brits smash world team pursuit record in round one

Tough day for the Dutch

Preview: Monday at the Laoshan

Day two in pictures

Sunday's action as it happened

Preview: Sunday at the Laoshan

Day two at the track: Summary of the action

Hoy and Edgar clean up in the Keirin

Wiggins gets pursuit gold, Burke wins bronze

Newton storms to bronze in points race

Saturday's action as it happened: Two gold, a silver and two bronze for Britain

Blog: Life in Laoshan

Day one in pictures

Brits blast to team sprint gold

Day one at the track: Summary of the action

Friday's action as it happened: Gold for team sprint trio; Wiggins, Houvenaghel and Romero well in control

Burke blasts to new individual pursuit PB

British track stars raring to go

What makes the Laoshan such a challenge

Picture special: CW takes you inside the Laoshan velodrome

Saturday's preview

Friday's preview

Can these legs make an Olympic champion?

Cavendish unlikely to ride individual pursuit

How many medals will Britain's riders win?

Swipe to scroll horizontally
OLYMPIC GAMES 2008: NEWS

Cooke and Thomas to get heroes' welcome in Wales

Positive test for cyclist at Olympic Games

Bettini chasing second Olympic gold

Romero poses nude for ad

British quartet eyeing new world record

As Olympics approach two new drugs emerge

Beijing Blog

Beijing Blog 2

Beijing Blog 3

Swipe to scroll horizontally
OLYMPIC GAMES 2008: ROAD

Picture special: Women's time trial

Cancellara wins men's time trial gold

Men's time trial reaction: Steve Cummings on his ride

Women's time trial reaction: I feel fantastic, says Pooley

Pooley wins silver in women's time trial

Cooke's secret was the skinsuit

What the papers say... about Nicole Cooke

Analysis: women's road race

Gold for Nicole Cooke in Women?s road race

Reaction: It?s a dream to win Gold, says Cooke

Women's Olympic road race picture special

Sanchez gives Spain gold in thrilling men?s road race

Who is Samuel Sanchez?

Tactical analysis: Reading the men?s Olympic road race

British riders suffer in hot and humid Olympic road race

Rebellin misses out on golden birthday

Brailsford confident ahead of women?s road race

Swipe to scroll horizontally
OLYMPIC GAMES 2008: GUIDE

Olympic Games 2008 homepage>>

Olympics: latest news>>

Olympics cycling results>>

Cycling event schedule>>

Great Britain rider profiles>>

Cycling event guide>>

Photo gallery>>

Every British cycling medal ever won at the Olympic Games

From paupers to kings: The lottery funded revolution>>

Track results at the Worlds and Olympics 2004-2008

Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1