Asiana Covington of Surrey has been selected to carry the Canadian flag at the opening ceremonies today at the Commonwealth Youth Games on the Isle of Man.
“I’m so honoured to be chosen as the flag bearer and I can’t wait to walk into that stadium,” says Covington, who arrived on the Isle of Man Monday along with the rest of her Team Canada teammates. “This is my first international competition and my first time travelling outside North America, so you could say I’m pretty excited.”
Covington trains out of the Kajaks Track and Field Club in Richmond and is Canada’s top-ranked junior female in both hammer throw and discus. She won both competitions earlier this summer at the Legion Canadian Youth Championships in Ottawa, setting a championship record in the discus.
Scott Stevenson, Commonwealth Games Canada’s Director of Sport, said Covington’s attitude, work ethic and leadership skills made her such a strong selection.
“Asianna is an honour roll student, led charity work for young victims of Hurricane Katrina, and contributes volunteer time to read to younger students at her former elementary school and to make sandwiches for the homeless in downtown Vancouver,” said Stevenson.
“She’s got a remarkable resume for a 16-year-old and we’re so pleased that she’s agreed to carry the flag into the Opening Ceremony on Thursday.”
The Commonwealth Youth Games is an international multi-sport competition for athletes aged 14-18 from 69 nations.