Last night at a special reception in Athens the athlete that will lead out the British Olympic Team at the Athens Olympics opening ceremony bearing the Union Jack was announced.

British Judo is thrilled and proud that the athlete selected was our own Kate Howey MBE. This prestigious honour was bestowed on Kate after an open vote by the Performance Directors from each of the 21 British sports represented at this Olympiad.

Kate will be the first ever British Judo player to carry out this task and the first woman since since three-day eventer Lucinda Prior-Palmer shared the honour with Sebastian Coe in Los Angeles in 1984.

Britain will be the 110 th Nation to parade out at tomorrow’s opening ceremony, which begins at 18.45 BST.

On receiving the news that she would be carrying the flag Kate said, "I can't believe it, I'm still shaking, …. but it's nice to get a bit of recognition for the sport of judo, which doesn't always get a lot of headlines. I'm even more pleased for the sport than for myself."

Udo Quellmalz, BJA Performance Director, said, "It is a wonderful honour for Kate to be chosen, she is a great ambassador for judo and British Sport"

Back home the news of Kate’s success was met with much excitement by home supporters. British Judo Association CEO Scott McCarthy said, “We are thrilled that Kate and Judo have been given this tremendous honour, Kate is an incredible athlete and fully deserving of the task. This news has added to our anticipation and excitement about these games - If that was at all possible.”