A University of Victoria graduate will be one of two Canadian flagbearers on Friday for the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Langford-based rugby player Nathan Hirayama and Ontario-raised basketball player Miranda Ayim, both 33, were named Canadian co-flagbearers Monday by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
鈥淚t was definitely a shock. I was very surprised. It鈥檚 something I鈥檝e never even dreamed of. It鈥檚 a massive honour,鈥� Hirayama said in a Zoom call from Langford with Canadian media. 鈥淲e have a responsibility as role models. It is not something anyone takes lightly.鈥�
It鈥檚 the second time over the last three Summer Olympics that an Island athlete has carried the flag in the opening ceremony. Two-time Olympic medallist triathlete Simon Whitfield of Victoria performed the duty in 2012 at London.
鈥淚鈥檝e been watching the Olympics my entire life and understand the honour and privilege that comes with being the flag bearer,鈥� said Hirayama, the leading all-time scorer for sa国际传媒 in rugby sevens.
The moment will be especially poignant for Hirayama, who is of Japanese ancestry on his father鈥檚 side and is from Richmond.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a special time for my whole family,鈥� he said. 鈥淸My parents] were surprised and shocked and very supportive.鈥�
His father, Garry Hirayama, was born in Vancouver and also represented sa国际传媒 internationally in rugby. Garry passed on his love of the game to Nate, and the two became the first father and son to suit up for sa国际传媒.
Nate Hirayama played in three World Cups for sa国际传媒 following his Vikes career at UVic. He won two gold medals and a silver in the Pan Am Games in sevens and competed in three Commonwealth Games. But while this will be Ayim鈥檚 third Olympics, it is Hirayama鈥檚 first. The Canadian men鈥檚 rugby sevens team failed to qualify in 2016 for Rio, where the sport made its Olympic debut.
鈥淚t鈥檚 meaningful for our whole team after failing to qualify five years ago. To put in the work to qualify is really special 鈥� and we can鈥檛 wait for our opportunity to show the world what we can do,鈥� said Hirayama.
Not that the pandemic has made it easy. Training was severely restricted at Starlight Stadium and Goudy Field, and in the Al Charron national indoor facility, due to COVID protocols.
鈥淏ut we鈥檝e been training hard and have so much belief in our group,鈥� said Hirayama, who is among about 75 Island or Island-based athletes preparing to compete in the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.
Fans aren鈥檛 allowed at Tokyo Olympic venues, so Hirayama and Ayim will carry the flag into a near-empty stadium for the ceremony, which begins at 3:30 a.m. Pacific on Friday.
鈥淚鈥檓 sure it will be a different opening ceremony,鈥� said Hirayama. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 still such a special event and a sign of the beginning of something that has been in doubt over the last 16 months. It鈥檚 an exciting time.鈥�
