Rio 2016: Andy Murray named flag bearer for Team GB at Olympic opening ceremony

The 29-year-old Wimbledon champion is the first tennis player to land the honour

Murray celebrates his victory at the 2012 Games (Getty)

Andy Murray has been named Great Britain's flag bearer for the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maracana Stadium on Friday night.

Murray has beaten off competition from the likes of Sir Bradley Wiggins, Nicola Adams and David Florence to become the first tennis player to land the honour.

“I am very proud to be selected as the Team GB flag bearer for the opening ceremony on Friday,” he said.

“To represent your country at the Games is an unbelievable experience, but to lead out Team GB will be an incredible honour, the biggest in sport.”

The 29-year-old clinched men's singles gold at the London 2012 Games as well as silver in the mixed doubles alongside Laura Robson.

Murray was the choice of a panel of British Olympic Association experts, who picked from nominations made by each of the respective national sports federations.

The Scot will head a British team of 366 competitors, although a sizeable proportion of the athletes are yet to arrive in Brazil.

Murray added: “This is my third Olympic Games and it is a very special competition for me.

”I obviously have great memories of London and I am 100 per cent focused on winning here in Rio.

“The privilege of being the flag bearer is a moment I will remember for the rest of my life and will certainly be one of the highlights of my career.

“I hope to do the team proud on Friday and wish all of the British athletes the best of luck for the Games ahead.”

Andy Murray claimed his second Wimbledon singles title last month (Getty)

The world No 2, who won Wimbledon for a second time last month, follows in the footsteps of fellow Scot Sir Chris Hoy, with the cyclist leading out Team GB at London 2012.

The team's chef de mission Mark England, who headed the panel for the final selection, said a conversation with Murray convinced him the three-time grand slam winner was a worthy choice.

He said: “There are a great number of outstanding athletes on this team, from Nicola Adams who I made flag bearer in Baku, to Sir Bradley Wiggins, unquestionably one of our greatest ever Olympians.

“When I asked Andy to lead our team out it was received with a humility and grace that is befitting of the values of Team GB. It was an emotional moment for him personally, and for this team.

“I will be incredibly proud to hear him address the team and I have no doubt he will inspire our athletes and the nation alike.”

Murray is the second seed in the men's singles, behind world No 1 Novak Djokovic. The Serb paid tribute to his rival at his country's Olympic team press conference.

Djokovic said: “Absolutely deserved. He's globally recognised not just as a tennis player but an athlete.

“He has done so much for Great Britain, he has won gold and silver in London, he has won (the) Davis Cup.

“I've known him for a very long time and I know how much he cares about playing for his country so being a flag carrier for the opening ceremony is something that is absolutely deserved for him.”

PA