RIO 2016: When the roar of the crowd greets our Australian Team at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, in around 30 days from now, a very proud Aussie will be leading our Team.
That proud Aussie, the Australian flagbearer, will be announced on Wednesday.
The announcement will be made in front of thousands of fans at Melbourne’s Federation Square, live on Channel Seven's Sunrise program.
Who the flagbearer will be is a secret that Australian team Chef de Mission Kitty Chiller is holding close to her chest.
What she will reveal is that the athlete represents the values every Australian holds dear: sportsmanship, pride, individual responsibility, respect and resilience.
Chiller, a Sydney 2000 Olympian, has taken a number of factors into consideration.
“Picking the flagbearer is a huge responsibility; it’s not something I take lightly," Chiller said.
“We want the person leading the Team to embody what we stand for as One Team and to be the Team captain.
“I have thought about longevity as that’s traditionally been a big part of it. But I’ve also thought about who our future Olympians will look up to and who has given great service to their sport.”
Announcing the flagbearer in Australia breaks with the long-held tradition of naming the athlete the day before the Opening Ceremony, but Chiller believes this will help the athlete in their preparation and allow them to enjoy the moment.
“This way the athlete gets to enjoy the feeling for four weeks before the Games without having to hold onto that secret,” she said.
“I don’t want someone having to do a full day of media before the Opening Ceremony and then being exhausted and not being able to fully enjoy it. We want it to be the best day of their lives, besides perhaps winning a medal!”
Basketballer Andrew Gaze had the honour of carrying the flag at the Sydney 2000 Games in front of his home crowd.
He said it’s hard to describe the feeling of being told you will lead your Team out.
“I remember when I found I was going to be carrying the flag, I came out of a press conference with John Coates (AOC President and 2000 Chef de Mission) and I was with Mark Bradke and a bunch of other athletes and we were walking back. He called us aside and he said he was going to select me as captain and flagbearer. It was a huge honour and a very exciting time.
“It’s hard to describe that feeling, it’s very unique. To introduce the greatest athletes your country has produced. I got a little instruction from John (Coates) just to have fun and to make sure I dip the flag in front of the dignitaries. The roar of the crowd was amazing and to share that with my teammates it was a real privilege."
He has one message to the lucky Rio 2016 athlete who gets to lead the Team around Maracana Stadium on August 5.
“My message is to just enjoy yourself. It’s a huge honour, enjoy the moment and the experience, and share it with your teammates.”
The five-time Olympian, one of the greatest basketball players the country has produced, called on all Melbourne sports fans to witness the momentous moment at Federation Square.
“We want people to come down and to share in the excitement - it’s a privileged moment to witness it.”
Gaze, along with fellow past flagbearers Lauren Jackson (London 2012), James Tomkins (Beijing 2008) and Jenny Donnet (Barcelona 1992) will be at Federation Square to see the next generation of Olympians lead Australia to greatness.