FREMANTLE resident Brad Ness will lead Australia out to Maracana Stadium Wednesday night (Thursday morning AEST) after being announced as our opening ceremony flag bearer for the Rio Paralympic Games.
The Australian men’s wheelchair basketball team captain, who is also a member Red Dust Heelers that plays at Wally Hagan Stadium in Hamilton Hill, is preparing for his fifth Paralympics.
“Carrying the flag at the opening ceremony is going to make me feel 10 feet tall and bulletproof,” he said.
Chef de Mission Kate McLoughlin said the 41-year-old was the perfect candidate for the job.
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READ NOW“He is a talented athlete, a determined competitor and a fiercely patriotic Aussie,” she said.
Ness made his Paralympics debut for the Rollers at the 2000 Sydney Games.
The team did not medal in Sydney but has gone on to medal at each Games since, with silver in 2004 in Athens, gold in 2008 in Beijing and silver in 2012 in London.