Updated: Wed Jul. 23 2008 5:38:59 PM

CTV.ca News Staff

Star kayaker Adam van Koeverden will serve as Canada's flag-bearer for the 2008 Beijing Games, the Canadian Olympic Committee announced Wednesday.

The 26-year-old, from Oakville, Ont., is one of Canada's top medal hopefuls in Beijing.

"I don't see it so much as leading but as representing," van Koeverden told reporters Wednesday. "We're all marching in together. Everybody's a leader."

The opening ceremonies will be held Aug. 8 at the Beijing National Stadium.

"I'm more than honoured and privileged. It fills me with so much pride to (carry the flag)," said van Koeverden . "I can't wait."

He said it was a "great feeling" to represent his sport, the Canadian team, and everyone back in Canada.

In 2004, at the Summer Games in Athens, van Koeverden won gold and bronze medals in flatwater kayaking.

He also had the honour of carrying the flag at the closing ceremony for the Games.

"Adam typifies the Canadian Olympic Committee's passion for sport excellence and integrity, and represents Canada with pride on every occasion," COC president Michael Chambers, himself a former competitive paddler, said Wednesday.

There were several other candidates up for the honour, including equestrian Ian Millar, diver Alexandre Despatie, triathlete Simon Whitfield and trampoline star Karen Cockburn.

The 2008 Canadian Olympic Team is made up of 331 athletes -- a significant increase over the 265 who competed in Athens. The growth is due in part to an increase in team sports -- five in total -- that qualified for the Games.

Three team sports participating in Beijing -- men's baseball, men's water polo and women's softball squads -- also took part in Athens. The two new qualifying teams are men's field hockey and women's soccer.

Van Koeverden was picked as Canada's flag bearer by a selection committee.

Judoka Nicolas Gill carried the Canadian flag at the opening ceremony in Athens. Hockey player Danielle Goyette was the flag-bearer at the 2006 Winter Games in Turin, Italy.

With files from The Canadian Press

Comments are now closed for this story

Paddling mom
EXCELLENT CHOICE !!!
wE HAVE GREAT CANADIAN PADDLERS.

Zand
Yay!

Congratulations Adam.

All the best for a (personally) successful Olympics.

You're already doing the country proud by carrying the flag!

Paddling Mom
Congratulations Adam !!!
We wish you and all the athletes the best !!!

James
I wonder how Adam feels about carrying the flag at an Olympics where the host country has such a deplorable human rights record. Also will Adam have to wear a mask when he carries the flag to keep from choking on the polluted air in Beijing? This is shaping up to be a less than stellar opportunity for such fine athletes to preform. How sad!

Joe
James, as a former athlete I can tell you that people like you are blowing the China issue way out of proportion. These athletes, while conscience of the issues, are totally focused on their own situations. Carrying the flag at the Olympics is a dream for these athletes. It is their moment to shine. Just because the games happen to take place in a country with less than stellar human rights policies does not change that fact. People should start understanding this. These athletes are so internally focused these issues do not matter.

Joyce.
Adam's selectiona as Flag bearer is a good choice.
Go Canada Go !

Nancy
I agree with James. Any ethical athlete should boycott these games.

Dan from Surrey
Any ethical athlete should boycott the Vancouver 2010 games.

Sue Taylor
Congrats to Adam and Good luck at the games.
For atheletes to work so hard for their dream of competing in the Olympics for Canada is a dream for all atheletes and to boycott them as Nancy has stated would be against what the Olympics is all about. Good Luck to our Canadian Atheletes in Beijing.

Mike
Congratulations!
All the best for our athletes in Beijing Olympics!

Sylvain
ref:"James
I wonder how Adam feels about carrying the flag at an Olympics where the host country has such a deplorable human rights record. Also will Adam have to wear a mask when he carries the flag to keep from choking on the polluted air in Beijing? This is shaping up to be a less than stellar opportunity for such fine athletes to preform. How sad! "

Just a quick note I bet he is very proud remember he is Canadian carrying the Canadian flag and I bet he is very proud to be a Canadian. He is not carrying the flag for China.

Roger T
Go Adam! Make us proud and show your might at the Olympics!

AndyBob in Ottawa
Holy cow...he'd get my vote based on his "hotness" alone!

Craig from NS
An ethical athlete? Look in the mirror!! How many products are in your homes that have "Made in China" on them? Go on!! Have a look!!

China shouldn't have gotten the Olympic nod in the first place. The IOC was criticized at the time, because of China's human rights abuses. The IOC's response at the time (and that of many western leaders) was along the lines of, "This will be an opportunity to work with China to promote human rights in their country." That worked real well didn't it.

Carol in NB
Congratulations Adam...what an incredible honor that has been bestowed on you. As with any opening or closing ceremonies for any Olympics, when I watch I well up with tears with an enormous sense of pride watching the flag of my country with the athletes behind. Although I have strong emotions about the government, that still does not take away the fact that I am still a very proud Canadian and feel very fortunate to be living in this country. Best of luck to ALL our athletes in Beijing. Just getting there is a feat in itself, and whether or not a medal is received, what a story it is to tell your children and grandchildren.

Stephen B
Complete waste of the taxpayers money.

Spend our tax dollars on schools and roads...........

Roy
I wish you people who keep harping about China and human rights would concentrate on the athletes. Yes, China has a deplorable history of human rights, but almost every country in the world, even Canada and the U.S. could be accused of trampling on more than a few rights these days. Let the games begin...and get off this political BS.

Ethical shopper?
Great comments about "ethical athletes should boycott" these games. Why would you go to a country that imprisons people without a trial? Or even worse, they view torture as acceptable. They have no regard for the environment and economics takes priority over the environment every time. What ethical person would even set foot in a country like that?
As for me, I am going shopping in the U.S. this weekend. Great deals on stuff.
Athletes, be very proud of what you have accomplished and try to ignore the rest of us.

John
Go Adam!
You are an honor to Canada.
We will see you on T.V. with great honor during the open ceremony!

Lonny
Cragi from NS has hit the nail right on the head. To all you whining PC thugs out there, when you rid your house of everything made in China and stop using and buying thier products, then feel free to lecture the rest of us. Until then, the phrase "Go pound sand" comes to mind. These are atlhetes NOT politicains. If you are all so high and mighty why don't you buy a plane ticket to China and go protest yourself? I won't hold my breath....

Rocket
Excellent choice! Go Canada!

Stephen B, Craig, and James:

Would it hurt you to be proud of a fellow countryman for once in your life? Is your glass half empty? Always a dark cloud for every silver lining, isn't there? Instead of condemning, criticizing, and complaining, just be happy that this young man will do all Canadians proud.

Leave the politics out of this, drop the "money better spent elsewhere" schtick, and refrain from posting your negativity in an otherwise very positive story!

kayaker
Having attended 2 olympic games as a spectator I and others like me are caught up in a rare continuity of thinking, rejoicing, cheering for all athletes of all nations, that is what the olympic spirit is all about....one world. That does more for humanity than any boycott ever will, just attend one and you'll forever feel changed about our world. GO Canada GO and kudos for Adam...Kayaking is #1!!

James
To Joe;
So, what you're saying is that an athlete is more important than an oppressed citizen of China? As long as human beings are oppressed in any country in the world, athletic events should not be held. These games are akin to the world "fiddling" as people are abused, murdered, starved and silenced. The Canadians I think we should really celebrate are the people who put their lives on the line to help in countries like Haiti, Sudan and any other African counties, any place where human rights are at risk. How can you Joe, as a former athlete, honestly put an individual's chase for gold, silver or bronze trinkets above basic human right. Shame on you!

~JoeNorthAmerican~
I absolutely refuse to watch the Chinese Olympics on television.

I went to a Canada Day Parade in Montreal and each ethnic group had their own contingent in it carrying the flag that represented the country of their ethnicity. I was totally shocked when the Chinese group marched and shouted "China-China-China"! At what was a "Canada" Day parade.

Their group was so large that they represented at least a third of the entire parade. I just turned my back to them and refused to acknowledge them. I will boycott the Olympics by watching other programming and not participate in the brain-washing of letting China rule the planet with the help of business selling North America out to them.

David #1
Great choice to carry the 'Canadian' flag but who will be carrying the 'Quebec' flag?????

Shaun in Mtl
Go Adam Go
James: China is not the greatest country-BUT no one ever says anything about the USA and Gitmo and all the war crimes they are currently doing
Nancy: The Olympic Games are much more than that and think of the athletes training for YEARS to get this far - they just can't give up their dream. Nancy you are being selfish and any ethical athlete would realize that going to the games and doing their best would show China a better example.

Margo
Congratulations Adam. Forget all the negativity re -China, you will do us proud.

Ian in Ottawa
For James, Nancy and Dan from Surrey: Get off your soap boxes. If you were in these athletes' shoes, you would not only work hard to make sure you'd qualify for the Olympics, but you'd be honoured to be named flag-bearer.

For Joe, Sue Taylor and particularly Craig from N.S. - very well said. You have all summarized what I wanted to say to these three high-and-mighty souls.

Chip
We should look at our own record of how we treat the elderly and the unborn before taking swipes at China's human rights record.

Guppies
James
I wonder how Adam feels about carrying the flag at an Olympics where the host country has such a deplorable human rights record. Also will Adam have to wear a mask when he carries the flag to keep from choking on the polluted air in Beijing? This is shaping up to be a less than stellar opportunity for such fine athletes to preform. How sad!


James,

Other part of the world are not any better than China. Include America and Canada. You just don't know about it.
Let's the game begin.
No matter what. Human Right Issue, polluted air...etc will never go away. Don't care which part of the world you are in.

Go Canada Go !

Jason
Congrats to him, and he seems like a worthy choice.

However. I was VERY disappointed to see Ian Millar overlooked once again. This will be, I believe, his *ninth* consecutive Olympics. He has been a great competitor for years, and I think he would have been the best choice. C'est la vie.

Doug BC
No doubt this honour is something Adam will be proud of.And I'm sure he'll represent us honourably.
As to the ethics,I am also one who thinks the Olympics can not,nor should they be separated from ethics and human rights.I just think real friendly sporting competitions involve are about more than just athletic prowess.And I think awarding these games to China was a huge mistake from the start.
I have not changed my mind about that.I just realize that debate is over.And,since we are sending a team,the best thing we can do is wish them well.
And hopefully,when the 2010 Winter games come to Whistler and Vancouver,our team won't be packing their "Made in China" knick-knacks while wearing uniforms that also look more like they belong on the Chinese athletes.And I wouldn't doubt that the flag he is carrying is probably made in China as well.
We should support our athletes as well as we can for now,and press for more Canadian content in 2010,even though it's already to late to have "Made in Canada" mascots.If the taxpayers are footing the bills for this,I don't think it's unreasonable to expect the team,and a Canadian venue to look and act like it represents our country,and our values.
This time,I think the IOC and the COC just plain "blew it".

ALLEN
NO MATTER WHO WAS CHOSEN TO CARRY THE FLAG OF CANADA IT IS ALWAYS A TREMENDOUS HONOUR FOR THOSE CHOSEN - WE WISH ONLY THE BEST FOR ALL ATHLETES FROM CANADA TO DO THEIR VERY BEST AND HOPEFULLY RETURN HOME WITH A GOLD / SILVER / BRONZE MEDAL, BUT IF NOT ENJOY AND APPRECIATE THE MOMENT AND GAIN BY THIS MARVELLOUS EXPERIENCE.

guppies
James
To Joe;
So, what you're saying is that an athlete is more important than an oppressed citizen of China? As long as human beings are oppressed in any country in the world, athletic events should not be held. These games are akin to the world "fiddling" as people are abused, murdered, starved and silenced. The Canadians I think we should really celebrate are the people who put their lives on the line to help in countries like Haiti, Sudan and any other African counties, any place where human rights are at risk. How can you Joe, as a former athlete, honestly put an individual's chase for gold, silver or bronze trinkets above basic human right. Shame on you!


James,

There is nothing to do between the Olympics to other issue like abused, murdered, starved and silenced.

This Happen in any part of the world too. Include Canada. Every day, every min and sec.
And Canada are not any better.

All the Atheles training hard, very hard for 4 yrs or more for this event or the sport they love. If they select to go. That's is a greatest moment for them. I wish my son are one of them.

Leave your so call abused, murdered, starved and silenced on the side (since you will never can solve this problem and no one can).

And hope the Canadian bring back the Gold.

Go Canada Go.

Reece
I never like to be viewed as a kill-joy at any party, but this is CHINA! While Adam may be beaming with pride, many human beings are in prison for the crime of simply expressing their opinion. Understand, for many of us here - we like nothing more than to criticize our liberal or conservative gov'ts and at times we could go about it rude and insulting; HOWEVER, we will NOT be imprisoned or killed for it! How does a human celebrate the human spirit under the venue of an inhuman regime? Tiananmen square - as one example? Where is your pride coming from Adam? You represent our country but at what cost to your sense of humanity? Where are your principals?

Enjoy yourself, Adam, but many people have died for demanding the human right of freedom you yourself enjoy...Germany also enjoyed the Olympics and there were others before you who proudly paraded their nations colours in celebration of the human spirit - as Hitler looked on. The freedom that you have seemingly taken for granted. It's a shameful day for you in many peoples eyes. I for one will not be watching this spectacle and yes, I know I am only one single human being and perhaps won't make a difference to this world but I will demonstrate to my child and friends how to live a dignified and principled life. Mirrors don't scare me.

Drew
Go Canada Go!!

Should be a great showing by our athletes this year!

With all the talk and awareness regarding human rights etc., boy am i glad and proud to be Canadian!!

Craig from NS
Ethical Shopper:

Nice sarcasm. ;)


Rocket:

I am proud of our athletes and their accomplishments. I know two of the athletes going to China for these games. I myself got to carry the provincial flag at a Canada Games many years ago and how proud I was. I'm just sick and tired of the hypocrites who tell our athletes and government to boycott while they do their shopping at Walmart.

Kim-montreal
Why would somebody carry the Quebec flag? The flags at the Olympics is for each country - last time I heard, Quebec was a province, not a country.Maybe the athletes should also carry flags from all 10provinces & 2 territories??? Gimme a break !

MartinofNS
I am glad Adam VanK is carrying the flag in the Olympics. I was a kayaker myself and Adam was a great inspiration during his medalling debut in Athens.

I would like to see more funding going towards summer olympics games. I think its important that we support them financially, as well as on the grand stands.

Proud Canadian
To David #1: Great choice to carry the 'Canadian' flag but who will be carrying the 'Quebec' flag?????

Get over yourself. Quebec is part of Canada, they voted to stay in and until they do differently the Canadian flag represents Canada INCLUDING Quebec.

Ki-Som
To David #1...

Last time I checked, Quebec, is part of Canada so I do not understand why you want someone to carry a provincal flag? Now if Quebec was an independent country, then your question would be valid. Then I would have to ask you, why are you asking this question on another countries website. David #1, you are so silly. GO CANADA!!!

Steve
Great choice!
It is exciting to see our athletes competing in Beijing with best athletes from 200 countries around the world.
Good luck and all the best!

J
While I hope there will be surprises (and I think we need surprises) performers this year, I am more looking forward to the 2010 games because first we have the possibility of being at the top in the medal counts in Vancouver not to mention it might push ever further the green movement around the world. Think of this, we will go probably from the Olympics with the biggest pollution problem to perhaps one of the most environmental-friendly sites in 2010.

Craig from NS
I believe David was being sarcastic about the Quebec flag. The Bloc complained during the Sydney Olympics that there wasn't enough Quebec flags being flown. Just another example of their stupidity.

Alam
Congratulations Adam.
Go Canada Go.

I also thank China for hosting the Olympics.