According to RIA Novosti; Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova is a leading contender to carry the
Russian flag at the opening ceremony for the 2012 Olympic Games in
London, Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko told R-Sport on Tuesday.
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| 2012 London Olympics: French Open champion Maria Sharapova likely to carry Russian flag at opening ceremony |
While Russia's tennis chief Shamil Tarpishchev said on Tuesday that Sharapova will be the Russian
delegation's flag-bearer at next month's Olympic opening ceremony in
London, Russia's tennis chief Shamil Tarpishchev said on Tuesday.
'Tennis
is a very popular sport and, so as far as I know, Roger Federer has
been chosen to carry the Swiss flag and Rafa Nadal will lead the Spanish
delegation at the opening ceremony in London," Tarpishchev, a member of
the International Olympic Committee, was quoted as saying by local
media.
Carrying the flag is considered a great honour in Russia and it is
tradionally given to famous athletes, mostly men, such as Greco-Roman
wrestler Alexander Karelin and swimmer Alexander Popov, who have won
numerous Olympic titles.
The Russians might break the tradition by choosing Sharapova, who won the French Open title last weekend.
The Olympic tennis tournament will be
played on the grass courts at Wimbledon where, as a 17-year-old,
Sharapova stunned Serena Williams in the 2004 Wimbledon final to win her
maiden grand slam title.
