Team Ireland reveals its two flagbearers for tonight’s Opening Ceremonies in Paris

Sarah Lavin and Shane Lowry have been announced as the Team Ireland Flagbearers for the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony tonight, July 26.

Lavin, from Co Limerick, is set to compete in the 100m Hurdles during this summer’s Olympics, while Lowry, from Co Offaly, will compete in Golf.

The duo will lead 133 Irish athletes - Ireland's largest-ever team to compare at an Olympic Games - during Friday's Opening Ceremonies in Paris.

Lavin said it is "surreal" and the greatest honor I've ever been given" to have been named one of Ireland's flag bearers for Paris 2024.

“I’m so grateful to those who’ve trusted me and put me in this position.”

The runner is equally as emotional about the honor: "There’s no point in lying about that because, you know, there’s a lot of people you’re representing and to be on the biggest sporting stage."

She added: “I’m deeply touched and just so excited to get out there.

Lowry said being named a flag bearer for Ireland is a "huge honor for me and my family.

“Anybody that knows me knows how patriotic I am and how much I love Ireland and how much I love playing for my country."

He added: “I always wear the Irish flag with pride.

“To get to do something like this is something that I’ll remember forever.”

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“It’s the greatest honour, I’ve ever been given.” ??

Sarah Lavin and Shane Lowry are our Team Ireland Flagbearers for the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony ✨#TeamIreland | #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/nisrUyyjRj

— Team Ireland (@TeamIreland) July 26, 2024

Lavin and Lowry were announced as Ireland's flagbearers on Friday at the Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris, which will be Team Ireland’s headquarters in the central part of the host city.

Taoiseach Simon Harris was on hand in Paris on Friday to pass the Irish flag to Lavin and Lowry. He said that all of Ireland is behind its 133 Olympic athletes.

A great honour to pass the Irish flag to @ShaneLowryGolf & @sarahlavin_ who will be our flag bearers for @TeamIreland at the @Olympics. Congratulations to them both on this huge honour. The entire country is behind our brilliant 133 athletes pic.twitter.com/puTCbx7mCc

— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) July 26, 2024

For the first time in the history of the Olympic Summer Games, the Opening Ceremony will not take place in a stadium - instead, the parade of some 10,400 athletes will be held on the Seine with boats for each national delegation.

The spectacle is due to kick off at 19:30 CEST and is expected to last more than three hours.

For the Opening Ceremonies, Team Ireland will be donning slick designs - each of which features the athlete's home county - crafted by Irish designer Laura Weber. 

Irish designed, made and worn on the biggest stage in the world ✨

Team Ireland Flagbearers, Sarah Lavin and Shane Lowry ??#TeamIreland | #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/dxTxVn8VUH

— Team Ireland (@TeamIreland) July 26, 2024

How to watch the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony

In Ireland, the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony will be broadcast on RTÉ2 with coverage beginning from 6 pm, with streaming available on the RTÉ player. You can also watch the ceremony on BBC1, with their coverage starting from 5:45 pm.

In the US, NBC's live broadcast of the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony will begin at 12 pm on Friday, July 26 on local NBC networks. It will also be presented in primetime at 7:30 pm ET/PT on July 26. It will also be streamed via NBC's platform Peacock, though you'll have to create an account.