Pascoe to carry flag at Games
Sophie Pascoe will be the flagbearer for the New Zealand team at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games.
The 25-year old is the country’s most decorated Paralympian, having won 15 Paralympic swimming medals. She won two gold medals at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Pascoe was named as flagbearer by the New Zealand team’s chef de cission Rob Waddell at a team welcome ceremony attended by around 500 New Zealand athletes, family members and supporters on the Gold Coast.
Waddell says the Cantabrian was chosen because she epitomises the values and the culture carried by the New Zealand team.
‘‘What this athlete does transcends sport and touches the hearts and emotions of every New Zealander. She is an inspiration to all people,’’ said Waddell.
Pascoe was given the news a fortnight ago.
‘‘It’s very humbling to have been chosen out of the many world champion athletes that we’ve created in New Zealand.
‘‘I wasn’t considered as a Paralympic athlete, I was considered as just one of the athletes of the New Zealand team so to lead that team out is very special,’’ she said.
Pascoe will compete in the SM10 200m individual medley and the SB9 100m breaststroke at the Games.
Meanwhile, a player in the New Zealand women’s rugby sevens team has contracted mumps.
Ruby Tui, 26, is with the sevens team at their pre-games camp on the Sunshine Coast in Australia. She is currently in isolation and being supported by a New Zealand team doctor who has travelled to the Sunshine Coast to be with her.
The wider team will remain in isolation at their camp while further assessments are made on players and support staff.
The team had been scheduled to come into the village today but will now remain in camp until Sunday.