National U18 Champion Judoka Wesley Greenidge has been named as Team GB’s Opening Ceremony Flagbearer for the Tbilisi 2015 European Youth Olympic Festival (Tbilisi 2015) after a vote by his fellow athletes and Chef de Mission Heather Fell.
The London-born Judoka will lead Team GB’s 44-strong athlete delegation into Tbilisi’s Mikheil Meskhi Stadium tomorrow evening (Sunday 26th July) as the Ceremony begins six days of competition in Georgia.
The Festival, which welcomes around 2,500 athletes from 50 European nations, sees British athletes compete across five of the nine sports on the programme; artistic gymnastics, cycling, judo, swimming and tennis.
Greenidge, who has also won a silver medal at the British Junior Championships, was selected after each group of athletes and Fell nominated an individual to carry the Union Flag.
The 17-year-old will have to wait until next Saturday to compete in the boys' +91 category at Tbilisi 2015 but was proud to have begun the Festival with nomination.
“It feels great to have been chosen and it makes this a great start to the week,” said Greenidge.
“Knowing that the other athletes voted makes it extra special and hopefully means people see me a typical athlete and a humble guy.
“I’ll feel incredibly proud to walk out carrying the Union flag tomorrow, knowing I’m representing myself and my country. It means a great deal to me.”
Fell said: “I’m delighted to name Wesley as our Flagbearer for the Opening Ceremony. He’s a deserving recipient of the nomination and I’m sure tomorrow evening will be an immensely proud moment for both Wesley and his family.
“It was an incredibly close vote but the whole team is looking forward to following Wesley into the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium and starting what we hope will be a fantastic Festival for Team GB.”