Martyn Irvine will be hoping to add more medals to his impressive collection when he begins his Commonwealth Games with the 40km points race on Saturday.
Former world track champion Martyn Irvine has been chosen to carry the flag for Northern Ireland at tonight’s opening ceremony at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Irvine won gold in the scratch race at last year's World Track Championships in Minsk and also took a bronze medal in the team pursuit for Northern Ireland at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
The 29 year old, now based in America with the United Healthcare professional team, also won a silver medal at this year's World Track Championships in Colombia despite a year blighted by injuries and a broken femur.
Irvine's performances last year, which also included medals at the UCI Track World Cup and European Championships, led to him being named as BBC Northern Ireland Sports Personality for 2013 and tonight he will lead the Northern Ireland team into Celtic Park.
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"I'm honoured to be considered as flag bearer considering there are a lot of other athletes in the team with bigger CVs than I have,” said the Ards man.
“There aren’t many chances to represent Northern Ireland, so to carry the flag in Glasgow, so close to home and in front of my friends and family, is going to be a real honour."
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Irvine will get the first of his three events on the Chris Hoy Velodrome under way on Saturday when he rides the 40km the points race before taking on the 20km scratch race a day later and the road race on August 3rd .
"We are delighted to appoint Martyn as official flag bearer as he epitomises the spirit of Team Northern Ireland, ” said Northern Ireland Chef de Mission Robert McVeigh.
"He has demonstrated an ability to galvanise all our sports into one team and epitomises the spirit of Team Northern Ireland by exhibiting qualities of commitment and integrity."
Update: Nice shot of Irvine last night
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