Bond, Hirini to carry flag

Two-time Olympic rowing champion Hamish Bond and Black Ferns sevens captain Sarah Hirini have been named the New Zealand team flag-bearers for the Tokyo Olympic Games.

The pair were formally announced at a function in Auckland last night.

The event also marked one month to the Olympic Games, which will run from July 23 to August 8 in Tokyo.

It will be the first opportunity for male and female athletes to jointly carry their national flags at a Games opening ceremony, following a change in Olympic rules.

Bond said he would be extremely proud to carry the flag alongside Hirini.

“If you look back on the people who have been our flag-bearers over the years, it’s a pretty amazing bunch of athletes, so to be bestowed this opportunity is really special to me,” he said.

Peter Snell was team flag-bearer the last time New Zealand competed at an Olympic Games in Tokyo, in 1964.