Judoka Wesley Greenidge was named as Team GB’s Opening Ceremony Flagbearer for the Tbilisi 2015 European Youth Olympic Festival (Tbilisi 2015) after a vote by his fellow athletes and Chef de Mission Heather Fell.

The London-born judoka lead Team GB’s 44-strong athlete delegation into Tbilisi’s Mikheil Meskhi Stadium yesterday evening (Sunday 26th July) at the Opening Ceremony, the start of six days of competition in Georgia.

The Festival, which welcomes around 2,500 athletes from 50 European nations, sees British athletes compete across five of the nine sports on the programme; artistic gymnastics, cycling, judo, swimming and tennis.

Greenidge, who has won gold at the British Cadet Championships and a silver medal at the British Junior Championships, was selected after each group of athletes and Fell nominated an individual to carry the Union Flag.

The 17-year-old will have to wait until next Saturday to compete in the boys’ +91 category at Tbilisi 2015 but was proud to have begun the Festival with nomination.

Speaking before the ceremony, Greenidge said: “It feels great to have been chosen and it makes this a great start to the week.

“Knowing that the other athletes voted makes it extra special and hopefully means people see me a typical athlete and a humble guy.

“I’ll feel incredibly proud to walk out carrying the Union flag, knowing I’m representing myself and my country. It means a great deal to me.”

Congratulations to Wesley and good luck to the team in Tbilisi.