Chris Hoy thrilled to be flag-bearer for Team GB at opening ceremony

Sir Chris Hoy will lead out Team GB on home soil after being named yesterday as the flag-bearer for the opening ceremony (PA)

Another day, another honour for British cycling. Sir Chris Hoy was yesterday named as the British flag-bearer for the opening ceremony on Friday.

Hoy, a four-time gold medallist, was the overwhelming winner of a vote by the 542 members of Team GB. It means the 36-year-old Scot will attend his first opening ceremony at his fourth Olympic Games. "This is a huge honour," said Hoy.

"I am absolutely delighted. To be leading out Team GB at the Olympics is the stuff of dreams and it being a home Games makes it even more special."

In his previous three Games, Hoy has never attended the ceremony either because of it being too close to his competition day or that the cycling team were yet to arrive in the Olympic Village – the rest of the track cyclists will still be at their Newport training camp on Friday, while the road team will be in Surrey.

It is a heady time for Hoy's sport in this country with further Olympic success expected to follow Bradley Wiggins' historic triumph in the Tour de France on Sunday. "In the cycling world already he [Wiggins] is such a superstar, and he is used to receiving a lot of attention wherever he travels," said Hoy. "In the UK is potentially where the real change will happen, when he is walking around the streets and he is out and about. I think his life will change drastically and I am sure he will deal with it incredibly well.

"I have known Bradley since he was 16 and seen him go right through the ranks and then become a champion in every single facet of the sport that he has participated in. He managed to do three weeks of perfect racing in the toughest of conditions and it is amazing.

"We are still pinching ourselves here in the British cycling camp at what he has achieved. Cycling has received such a huge profile boost and if we can continue that with more success, cycling will become even more popular in the UK and we can get even more people on their bikes. That will be felt not just for future champions and future gold medallists, but also for the health of the nation, congestion and the environment. There are so many positive spin-offs from people cycling."

Wiggins is now preparing for the road race on Saturday – which is why he will not be at the opening ceremony – where he is part of the British team looking to help Mark Cavendish to gold. Wiggins will chase gold of his own in the time trial next week.

Rule Britannia: GB's flag-bearers

1906: William Grenfell, Fencing

1908: Kynaston Studd, Cricket

1912: Charles Smith, Water polo

1920: Philip Noel-Baker, Athletics (Was a known advocate of disarmament, recognised as the 1959 Nobel Peace Prize winner. Previously served as a British delegate in the formation of the United Nations.)

1924: Arthur Hunt, Water polo

1928: Malcolm Noakes, Athletics

1932: David Cecil, Athletics

1936: Jack Beresford, Rowing (To go with five medals at the Games in Nazi Germany, Adolf Hitler presented Beresford with an oak sapling. He donated the tree to his alma mater Bedford School and it was dubbed the "Hitler Oak".)

1948: John Emrys Lloyd, Fencing

1952: Harold Whitlock, Athletics (Won gold in the 50km walk 16 years previously, despite falling ill from food poisoning 38km into the race.)

1956: George MacKenzie, Wrestling

1960: Richard McTaggart, Boxing

1964: Anita Lonsbrough, Swimming

1968: Lynn Davies, Athletics

1972: David Broome, Equestrianism

1976: Rodney Pattisson, Sailing

1984: Lucinda Green, Equestrianism

1988: Ian Taylor, Hockey

1992/1996: Steve Redgrave, Rowing

2000: Matthew Pinsent, Rowing

2004: Kate Howey, Judo

2008: Mark Foster, Swimming

Flag-bearers by sport

5 Athletics, 4 Rowing, 2 Equestrianism, Fencing, Swimming, Water polo, 1 Boxing, Cricket, Hockey, Judo, Sailing, Wrestling.

Flag-bearers by gender

20 males, 3 females.

Nick Frost