LONDON – One of the traditions in the closing hours of the Olympic Games is speculating about who will get the chance to carry Canada’s flag at the closing ceremony.
It’s a big honour accorded to an athlete who has done something special in the Games.
Sun Media’s poll shows 80 percent of those who voted wanted Christine Sinclair, the captain of Canada’s women’s soccer team to carry the flag.
Her three-goal performance against the U.S. in that heartbreaking seminfinal loss was one of the great Olympic performances in Canadian history.
When asked about being the flagbearer the other day, Sinclair said:
“I’ve heard about it and if it was to happen, it would be the hugest honour,” she said, “but I’d want my teammates right there with me.”
That’s a great idea.
The soccer team became the first Canadian team to win a medal in the Summer Olympics since 1936 (though I don’t know why they don’t consider the men’s and women’s eight in rowing a team).
Given what the soccer team accomplished and the way they captured Canada’s attention, why not let the team carry the flag?
The could pass it around like they do the Stanley Cup.
Though knowing the IOC, there might be a rule against common sense.
