KEY POINTS:
New Zealand has had its first Olympic bolter before the Games have even begun.
Rower Mahe Drysdale was late last night named as the flag-bearer to lead the New Zealand team into the stadium for tonight's opening ceremony in Beijing.
He was announced at a team function in the city. The identity of the flag-bearer is kept secret until the eve of the Olympics and is always the subject of much speculation.
While Drysdale's name was always mentioned as someone who would be a perfect candidate, it was considered that he would be unlikely to lead the team because he is competing tomorrow.
He will line-up in his heat for the single scull tomorrow afternoon.
Drysdale certainly fits the criteria as a singles scull triple world champion who competed at Athens, and is someone who evokes the spirit of the Olympics.
Team chef de mission Dave Currie revealed his choice before the team at a function attended by dignitaries including Governor-General Anand Satyanand.
"We have chosen someone who will inspire us, who will never give up," said Currie.
"Clearly Mahe is a world champion and has demonstrated he can compete at the highest levels of international competition but it's about his personal qualities too."
Drysdale, 29, is a popular member of the team, known for his modesty, friendliness, hard work and determination to succeed.
He joins an illustrious line-up: flag-bearers at previous Olympics have been Beatrice Faumuina (2004), Blyth Tait (2000), Barbara Kendall (1996), Mark Todd (1992) and Ian Ferguson (1988).
As well as an address from Satyanand, the team heard from Olympic champions Sarah Ulmer and Hamish Carter and NZ Olympic Committee president Eion Edgar. Dave Dobbyn also performed, and Palmerston North's Greg Oke, a member of the medical team, sang a song he had written for the team.
