By Michelle Pickles, in London
Every four years there's one hotly discussed topic ahead of the opening ceremony - who will carry the flag for New Zealand?
It's an age old tradition that's always been shrouded in secrecy and the announcement will be made tomorrow night.
New Zealand chef de mission Dave Currie is only giving a few hints.
“Generally [we’re] looking for someone who has performed well at Olympic level in the past, is likely to do well this time around, but somebody who embodies all those qualities that you want to go behind them into battle.”
Defending Olympic shot put champion Valerie Adams would be an obvious choice - but she doesn't arrive into London until two days before her event on August 6, and would be unlikely to change her schedule.
So what about double Olympic gold medallist Mark Todd who is about to compete at his seventh games?
“Well I can confirm that I haven't been asked,” he says. “It's quite something to carry the flag around the Olympic arena at the opening ceremony… It’s a great honour to be able to do it and I’m lucky to have done it once.”
Four years ago in Beijing Mahe Drysdale carried the flag, despite competing the next day.
Other possibilities are two-time Olympic triathlon medallist Bevan Docherty, Beijing 1500m silver medallist Nick Willis, or perhaps it will be All Whites captain Ryan Nelsen?
What is clear is that whoever carries the flag, they’ve known for some months.
“It’s not something you drop on them,” Currie says. “It’s clearly something that has to be part of their preparation, and think about it and plan it into what they're doing so they've known for a little while.”
So it seems while there are many qualities the New Zealand flag bearer must possess - there's one that's perhaps more important than anything else - he or she must be able to keep a secret.
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