Germans to vote to choose Rio 2016 flagbearer
Fans can choose from a shortlist of five veteran Olympians on the website of the country's National Olympic Committee
Flagbearer candidate Moritz Fürste, here celebrating London 2012 hockey gold with the German flag, may be waving the flag in a more formal settiing on 5 August (Photo: Getty Images/Daniel Berehulak)
For the first time ever, fans and German athletes have been invited to vote on who will carry the German flag at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.
From 424 nominated athletes for Rio 2016, the German National Olympic Committee has selected five as potential flagbearers for the opening ceremony on 5 August.
The five athletes are all veteran Olympians who will be looking to add to their haul of medals in Rio.
- Table tennis player and two-time Olympic medallist Timo Boll, who will compete in his fifth Olympic Games.
- Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympic hockey champion Moritz Fürste, who is captain of the German team and will play in his third Olympic Games.
- Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympic eventing team champion Ingrid Klimke, who will enter her fifth Olympic Games and will compete in the eventing individual and team events.
- Beijing 2008 Olympic modern pentathlon champion Lena Schöneborn, who will participate in her third Olympic Games.
- London 2012 Olympic women's team sprint cycling champion Kristina Vogel, who will compete in her second Olympic Games.
On 23 July the German Olympic committee launched a website (www.deutsche-olympiamannschaft.de/de/fahnentraeger.html), where people can vote for one of the five nominated athletes. Additionally, the German athletes at Rio 2016 will vote for their flagbearer.
Voting is open until 23:59 on 2 August (German time).
Until now the German delegation has always selected the flagbearer.
The winner of the vote will be officially announced on 4 August in Germany House in the Barra da Tijuca district of Rio de Janeiro.
