Tatum Keen will have the honour of leading Team GB at the Opening Ceremony of the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) in Baku after being announced as Flagbearer.

Bradley Stoke’s Keen, who competes in the -52kg category, was selected from the 44-strong Team GB squad.

The Bath judoka will follow in the footsteps of Rio Olympic bronze medallist, Sally Conway, who was named Flagbearer at the European Games in Minsk last month.

Sunday’s Opening Ceremony will take place at the Baku Crystal Hall in Baku, with over 2500 athletes from 48 countries expected to march.

The Games run between the 21^st – 27^th July and Team GB will be represented by 44 athletes.

Judo action at the EYOF is set to start on Wednesday 24^th July and finish on Saturday 27^th.

Keen said: ‘It’s a massive honour to be selected and I’m really proud to be Flagbearer’

‘It’s a really good way to start the Festival. I wouldn’t say I’m a natural leader but I Iove teamwork and hopefully I can bring us all together tomorrow as one team.’ 

‘So far this has been such a different competition to what I’m used to in the past. We saw the judo venue today and it’s huge, I was quite taken aback actually.’

‘Being in the village has been good fun and it’s nice to mix with the other sports. All the girls are on one floor in a big communal area so it’s been nice to chat to them and learn about their sports.’

‘I’ve got a bit of a wait until I compete but that’s no bad thing as I’ll get to support my teammates and get used to the atmosphere before I go on Thursday. I’ll be nervous but looking forward to it.’

Chef de Mission at Baku 2019, Elaine Skilton said: ‘Getting to lead out your country into an Opening Ceremony at an Olympic event is a once in a lifetime experience and Tatum should rightly feel incredibly proud to have been selected. She follows in the footsteps of some great athletes, not least fellow judoka Sally Conway at the European Games last month.’ 

‘The team have settled into the Athletes’ Village really well over the past couple of days and we hope being one of the first countries into the environment gives us an edge ahead of the first day of competition. All sports have now trained and are looking forward to getting their respective events underway.’

‘The venues and set up here is one of the best we’ve seen at a Youth Olympic Festival and the whole Games will no doubt give these young athletes an incredible experience.’

Team GB Judo at Baku 2019

Girls

Mae Bostock Weight Category: -48kg, Club: Gateshead

Tatum Keen -52kg, Bradley Stoke

Isobel Kitchen -57kg, Rochdale

Grace Griffith -63kg, Metro

Daisy Gilroy -70kg, Sportif

Boys

Dougie Fleming -50kg, Sportif

Artur Patemian -55kg, Pro Judo

Harry Zain-Prosser -60kg, Osaka

Ethan Nairne -66kg, Bradley Stoke

Ryan Rijksen-Salman -73kg, Bradley Stoke