Music: {allcanada} SINCLAIR NAMED FLAG BEARER FOR PAN AMERICAN GAMES

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

{allcanada} SINCLAIR NAMED FLAG BEARER FOR PAN AMERICAN GAMES

Soccer star Christine Sinclair was named Canada's flag bearer on Tuesday for the Opening Ceremonies of the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.

"I look forward to carrying the maple leaf for the Opening Ceremonies at the upcoming Pan American Games," said Sinclair. "I'm honoured and deeply moved to have been chosen as Canada's flag bearer. On behalf the entire team, I will proudly wave the Canadian flag and represent our country in a way that makes the entire country proud."

Captain of Canada's Senior Women's National Team, Sinclair is the most prolific goal-scorer in Canadian soccer history, owning 117 goals in 162 games. She is a 2008 Olympian and has led the Canadian team to FIFA World Cup appearances in 2003, 2007 and 2011. Sinclair is the all-time leading scorer in the history of the University of Portland women's soccer (110 goals), where she won two NCAA championships, and owns the NCAA record with 25 postseason goals.

Sinclair will lead a team of 493 athletes into Omnilife Stadium, representing all10 provinces and the Northwest Territories. Canada's 2011 Pan American Games athlete delegation is Canada's second largest at any Pan American Games, trailing only the 618 athletes that participated in 1999 in Winnipeg. The Canadian Pan American Team will be supported by 301 support staff.

"In just over a week, led by Christine Sinclair, Canadians will be inspired as our team of athletes enters the stadium for the opening ceremony," said Canadian Olympic Committee President Marcel Aubut. "Our athletes will take centre stage, competing for national pride, Pan American medals and, in some cases, Olympic qualification for their sports."