Howey carries flag for Britain

Judo player Kate Howey will be Great Britain’s flag-bearer at Friday night’s Olympic Games opening ceremony.

The 31-year-old from Andover, who won silver at Sydney four years ago and bronze in 1992 at Barcelona, will lead the British team and officials into the Olympic Stadium.

Britain will be the 110th team to enter the stadium during the ceremony which begins at 8.45pm local time (6.45pm Irish time), between Mauritania and Mexico.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair will be among the spectators at the revamped stadium with its spectacular roof, which will stage athletics events and the men’s football final.

Ireland are due to be 63rd into the stadium, after Iran and before Equatorial Guinea.