World champion aerial skier Laura Peel and figure skater Brendan Kerry will lead the Australian team into the National Stadium for the Beijing Winter Olympics opening ceremony.
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Peel and Kerry, who are competing at their third Olympians, were popular choices as dual flag bearers for Friday night's ceremony.
Peel, 32, is one of Australia's top medal prospects and Kerry is the first figure skater to be selected for the honour.
It's also the first time a male and female athlete have been named as flag bearers for the Winter Olympics team, following the move by the Australian Olympic Committee at the Tokyo Games last year.
"It's super exciting - this is the first time at a Winter Games where we've got two flag bearers so I'm really excited to be one with Brendan," Peel told AAP.
"I was a bit in shock when I heard the news but I'm really honoured."
Peel was flown into Beijing from Europe a day early for the announcement, while Kerry, 27, said he was surprised to hear the news from Australian team chef de mission Geoff Lipshut.
"I received a text message saying that Geoff needed to speak to me, but I was stuck waiting for the phone call for 30 minutes," the 27-year-old from Sydney said.
"We were talking about some other stuff and then he said, 'we're really happy you're going to be one of the flag bearers' and I was like 'what' and I was speechless for about 10 minutes and have had a smile on my face all day.
"I so excited and to share it with such an amazing athlete is really cool."
He said it was a special honour to be the first figure skater to carry the flag.
Kerry also said he thought it was bad news when Lipshut wanted to talk to him.
"It was the biggest shock ... I honestly thought he was calling me because there was a big problem," Kerry said.
The Australian athletes are spread over three locations in and around Beijing and about half the 43-strong team will gather at the stadium for the ceremony.
The mogul skiers, including medal hopes Jakara Anthony and Matt Graham, won't march as they have competition in Zhangjiakou almost 200km away.
Minimal local fans will be allowed into the stadium due to COVID-19 conditions, while no international visitors have been permitted to purchase Games tickets.
"When it comes to the actual event we're so focused on what we're doing it kind of fades away," Kerry said.
"It's a little bit unfortunate we don't get to share the experience with our families this time but I've been on the phone consistently and sending pictures and I'm sure they're going to be watching."
Gold medallist Alisa Camplin-Warner was the last aerialist to carry the flag at an opening ceremony, for the 2006 Turin Games.
Australian Associated Press
