Members of the Armed Forces to raise flags at London 2012

Service personnel from the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force have today been announced as the flag bearers for the Team Welcome and Victory Ceremonies at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Dressed in their Ceremonial Day uniforms, 176 service men and women will take part in 100 Team Welcome Ceremonies and 805 Victory Ceremonies during the Games.

The personnel have been chosen through a Ministry of Defence (MOD) nomination process, highlighting those with sporting or operational achievements, or who are involved in their local community.

Teams will consist of six flag bearers and one flag manager. There will be eight Royal Navy teams, nine Army teams, eight RAF teams and one overall commander who will sit centrally with the London 2012 Team Welcome and Victory Ceremonies team.

There will be a total of 805 Victory Ceremonies across the Olympic and Paralympic Games which will be seen by millions of spectators in London 2012 venues and a worldwide TV audience. Victory Ceremonies take place after a medal event finishes: after the awarding of medals the flags of the gold, silver and bronze medal-winning athlete’s countries are raised while the national anthem of the country or territory of the winning athlete is played. The Victory Ceremonies provide a chance for athletes to formally celebrate their success, and allow their home country to be united in celebration as the national anthem is played and the national flag raised. The anthems are recorded by the London Philharmonic Orchestra in advance of the Games.

Team Welcome Ceremonies are designed to formally welcome the athletes and team officials to the Games and include the protocol of raising flags. There will be over 100 Team Welcome Ceremonies taking place on the days leading up to the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The National Youth Theatre will create, write, stage and perform the ceremonies which will welcome over 200 Olympic teams and over 170 Paralympic teams to the Olympic and Paralympic Village and to the Games.

Seb Coe, LOCOG Chair, said: ‘The flag raising duties at Olympic and Paralympic Games are seen as an honour but we are in fact honoured to have these inspirational men and women be part of London 2012.’

Minister for Sport and the Olympics Hugh Robertson said: ‘Our Armed Forces are world renowned for their ceremonial excellence. As a former serviceman myself I am delighted that they will perform such an important role at the Games.’

Warrant Officer 1 Paul Barker said: ‘As a member of the Royal Navy I am proud to be part of a once in a lifetime opportunity to showcase the skills of our Armed Forces at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. As the Senior Ceremonial Instructor my role is to ensure the Tri-Service Flag Raising Teams are trained to the highest of standards and supported during the Games along with my small team of Royal Naval Instructors.’

Lieutenant Alex Davis said: ‘I am very proud to have been selected to represent the Royal Navy and contribute to the Olympic and Paralympic Games. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I am really looking forward to being involved in London 2012.’

Gunner Zanna Bateman said: ‘This is fantastic, I feel so honoured to be chosen to be part of these events. It will be something to talk about for the rest of my life, mum will be so proud!’

Sqn Ldr Lee Cobley said: ‘My father represented Great Britain at the Melboure 1956 and Rome 1960 so the Games hold a special fascination for me. As a keen athlete and organiser of RAF Squash for many years it always feels good to put something back into sport, and what greater way is there than assisting at the Olympic and Paralympic Games?’.

For more information, visit: www.london2012.com.

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