Pascoe chosen as Games flag bearer
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 mission 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.
‘‘It was an honour to present Sophie with the New Zealand flag and name her as the New Zealand flagbearer for the XXI Commonwealth Games.
She will follow in the footsteps of some of New Zealand’s greatest sportspeople when she leads the team into the Opening Ceremony tomorrow night.’’
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,’’ she said.
‘‘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 and it’ll be a moment to remember forever.’’