Junior British cross country ski champion Duncan Gibb led out Team GB at this evening's Opening Ceremony of the Vorarlberg and Liechtenstein 2015 European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF 2015) after his selection as Great Britain's flagbearer. Following a vote by his fellow athletes, Gibb carried the union flag in front of GB’s 31-strong delegation of athlete and officials at the Montafon Nordic Ski Jumping Centre in the host town of Tschagguns, Austria. The 17-year-old from Insch, Aberdeenshire followed in the footsteps of fellow cross country skiers Calum Irvine and Alex Standen as EYOF Team GB flagbearers, with the latter currently acting as Gibb’s Team Leader out in Vorarlberg and Liechtenstein. Speaking ahead of the Ceremony Gibb said: "There are no words to describe how I feel, it is incredible and a huge honour to be named as the Team GB flagbearer. I am very excited to carry the flag and to represent my fellow athletes this evening."
Two-time Olympic sailing gold medallist Sarah Gosling, who is leading Team GB as Chef de Mission at EYOF 2015 believes Gibb is an ideal choice as flagbearer. “Duncan has shown himself to be an athlete who embodies all the values that Team GB believe in, making him an excellent choice. He’s a true team player and I’m sure it’s a proud moment for not only Duncan but those close to him who have helped him on his sporting journey to this point.”
The action at EYOF 2015 begins in the morning with all four of Team GB's sporting disciplines set to compete as alpine skiing, cross country skiing, figure skating and snowboarding begin their EYOF 2015.