The opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games will take place in Paris this evening, with some of the finest athletes from all over the globe set to take part in the festivities in the French city to mark the opening of the world's biggest sporting event.
Olympic opening ceremonies have become hugely lavish affairs in recent times, with this edition set to be no exception. The events are set to be centred around the River Seine, making it the first time that the ceremony has been held in an entirely outdoor setting.
Of course, one of the biggest honours that can be bestowed on an athlete is carrying their nation's flag at the opening ceremony. Some big names are set to do so this year, with LeBron James (USA), Yulimar Rojas (Venezuela), and Andre De Grasse (Canada) among those confirmed to be doing so.
From an Ireland perspective, it will be Limerick's Sarah Lavin and Offaly's Shane Lowry that will carry the Tricolour in Paris.
It has been announced that Sarah Lavin and Shane Lowry will be the flag bearers for Team Ireland at this evening's Olympic opening ceremony in Paris 🇮🇪
A huge honour 👏 pic.twitter.com/ieI1vjtMAq— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) July 26, 2024
READ HERE: Here's Every Gold Medal Won By Ireland At The Olympics
Lavin & Lowry Emotional After Being Granted Huge Olympics Honour
This will be a second Olympic Games for both Sarah Lavin and Shane Lowry, and considering the amount of talented athletes in Team Ireland, being chosen to carry the flag at the opening ceremony is a massive honour.
That has not been lost on either athlete, both of whom are massively honoured to be selected for this duty.
In a video released by Team Ireland on social media, Sarah Lavin got emotional as she summed up just how much it meant to her.
𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐈𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐫𝐬 | Paris 2024
“It’s the greatest honour, I’ve ever been given.” 🥹💚
Sarah Lavin and Shane Lowry are our Team Ireland Flagbearers for the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony ✨#TeamIreland | #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/nisrUyyjRj— Team Ireland (@TeamIreland) July 26, 2024
It's surreal to be honest with you. It's the greatest honour I've ever been given. I'd even go as far as to say, probably any Olympic athlete ever could be given, to carry the carry the country's flag.
It's something you can't prepare for. I'm so grateful to those who've trusted me and put me in this position.
Yeah, it's emotional as well. There's no point in lying about that. There's a lot of people here representing and to be on the biggest sporting stage.
It's a testament to all the hard work and how much you've dug deep, not just in the last 12 months, but in the entire Olympic cycle and in your entire career.
I'm deeply touched and just so excited to get out there.
The Limerick woman has gone from strength to strength on the track in recent times, breaking Irish records in both the 100m hurdles and the 100m over the last couple of years. She would also claim a bronze medal at the European Championships in 2023.
On that occasion, she poignantly dedicated the medal to her boyfriend Craig Breen, who had tragically passed away in a rallying accident just a few months prior.
The courage she has shown from that point onwards has been nothing short of remarkable, meaning she is certainly deserving of this latest Olympics honour.
As for Shane Lowry, he is equally excited about the opportunity to represent his country at the Olympic opening ceremony.
It’s a huge honour for me and my family. Anyone who knows me knows how patriotic I am, how much I love representing Ireland around the world and playing for my country. Tonight will be special. @TeamIreland ☘️ #OlympicGames https://t.co/3njokPfYkb
— Shane Lowry (@ShaneLowryGolf) July 26, 2024
It's a huge honour for me and my family. Anybody that knows me knows how patriotic I am, how much I love Ireland and how much I love playing for my country.
It's something I'm not sure you'd even dream about as a kid, because it's so far out there that it's sometimes not achievable. To get to do something like that is a huge honour for me.
I always wear the Irish flag with pride and to get to do something like this is something that I'll remember forever.
With the French authorities having spared no expense for this latest Olympic opening ceremony, it should make for quite the occasion.
For Sarah Lavin and Shane Lowry, it is sure to be a bit extra special.
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