Shane Lowry named Team Ireland's Olymipc flagbearer alongside Sarah Lavin

Shane Lowry called it a huge honour to be selected alongside track athlete Sarah Lavin to carry the Irish flag during tonight's Olympic Opening Ceremony in Paris.

Lowry arrives in Paris following on from a tie for sixth in last week's 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon - his second Major top ten of the year - to take on the distinctive honour of leading out Team Ireland alongside hurdles athlete Sarah Lavin.

The Irishman, who is competing in his second Olympics, will take up flag-bearing duties during Friday evening's ceremony, which takes place along the River Seine at 18.30 BST.

Major Champion Lowry, who competed in Toyko and finished in a tie for 22nd, called it an honour that he would remember forever.

"It's a huge honour for me and my family," he said in an announcement post.

"Anybody who knows me knows how much I love Ireland and how much I love playing for my country. So something like I'm not sure you'd even dream about as a kid because it's so far out there that is sometimes not achievable.

"But to get to do this is a huge honour for me, and I always wear the Irish flag with pride and to get to do something like this is something I'll remember forever."

Rory McIlroy, Leona Maguire and Stephanie Meadow are also representing Team Ireland in the golf competition, held at the renowned Le Golf National, from Thursday, August 1st to Sunday, August 4th, 2024 (Men’s event) and Wednesday, August 7th to Saturday, August 10th, 2024 (Women’s event).