Blyth Tait to carry NZ flag

7:30 PM

SYDNEY - Reigning Olympic and world three-day eventing champion Blyth Tait has been named as the New Zealand Olympic team captain and flagbearer for the opening ceremony in Sydney tomorrow night.

His announced selection at a New Zealand Olympic Committee function in the New South Wales Parliament came as little surprise, but he got a spirited reception from his team-mates.

He said afterwards that he could not think of a bigger honour that could be bestowed on him.

"I'm thrilled to bits and hope I can carry the flag with distinction for the team and for New Zealand," he said.

Tait, 39, admitted that team chef de mission Les Mills had talked to him a few days ago about carrying the flag, but he had to try to deflect speculation when journalists asked him about the issue.

"Les approached me and then he dropped me in it by saying he was going to broadcast that he had approached the person," Tait said.

"When I was asked, I had to say I had not been approached, so I apologise for telling a few white lies."

The dressage segment of the teams event will be run on Saturday and Sunday and Tait said he did not know yet what day he would be needed to ride.

But he was confident that the duties of carrying the flag during the parade of athletes would not affect his performance.

Tait is the second equestrian competitor to carry the flag for New Zealand, following in the footsteps of double Olympic champion Mark Todd at Barcelona in 1992, and he said the honour was definitely one for the sport as well.

Mills said Tait was an outstanding sportsman who had overcome huge difficulties to continue to represent New Zealand with honour.

"He's shown enormous courage which is so important for a team captain and flag bearer."