Campbell to carry England flag

24 July 2002

Darren Campbell will carry the flag at the head of the England contingent at Thursday’s opening ceremony.

The sprinter, who runs for the Manchester track and field club, Trafford AC, said he had heard from his agent on Tuesday that he had been picked as a result of a vote by the English competitors.

The Olympic 200m silver medallist said: “I could never have dreamt, going back 18 months ago, that I’d be carrying the flag for the England team. It’s a great honour and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Campbell is also eagerly anticipating running in the 200m event at the Games. “It’s a great opportunity for me to go out there and make my mark on the sport, so I’m really looking forward to it. I’m not nervous at all. In fact, I’m more nervous about carrying the flag in opening ceremony. Training’s going really well. I’m feeling very positive about it.”

On the opposition he faces in the event, he said: “You can only control what you do. Put it this way, it’s going to take something special to beat me. I’m on a very emotional high at the moment. Things just keep getting better and better. So I’ll go out there and do my best and hopefully my best will be good enough.

“Team England are very confident at the moment. We know we’ve got the advantage of the home crowd. Obviously we can’t make predictions on how many medals we might win but as long as we go out and give 100 per cent, who knows what can happen?

“The city’s been excited for a long time now, but I don’t think you can let that get to you. It’s one of those chances that you have to experience something special, so if you go out there nervous, you’re not going to enjoy it”.

Campbell was also very enthusiastic about the Games being held in the north-west. “Let’s not look at London as being the focal point of the whole of the country. I think that’s why all the Mancunians have got behind it, because we know the north can put on a good games and I think we’re going to show that.”

Info News Service/jc/sm/pjt