Sochi 2014: Millie Knight picked as ParalympicsGB flagbearer
Fifteen-year-old skier Millie Knight will carry the Great Britain flag at Friday's Paralympic Winter Games opening ceremony in Sochi.
Knight, who is the youngest member of the ParalympicsGB team at the event, said the honour was "the best feeling ever".
"This was such a surprise but I'll try and make the team proud," she added.
Knight, whose vision was impaired by a parasitic infection she picked up as a baby, will compete with a guide.
GB Winter Paralympics team Great Britain's 15 athletes will compete in wheelchair curling events at Ice Cube Curling Centre and in alpine skiing events at Rosa Khutor. The first Winter Paralympics were held in Sweden in 1976 when GB had six competitors.
She first tried skiing at the age of seven on a family holiday and joined the Great Britain development squad in November 2012 at the age of 13.
"Millie is a very talented athlete and an exciting prospect for the future," said ParalympicsGB chef de mission Penny Briscoe. "She is the perfect representative for the team on this occasion."
Knight will be joined for the ceremony in the Fisht Stadium by guide Rachael Ferrier and fellow skiers Ben Sneesby and James Whitley, while the rest of the 15-strong British team stay in their accommodation in preparation for events that start the next day.
The skiers who will miss the opening ceremony, including medal prospect Kelly Gallagher and her guide Charlotte Evans, compete in downhill races on Saturday, while the wheelchair curling team face Canada that morning.
Knight will compete in the slalom and giant slalom events on 14 and 16 March respectively.
Despite concerns caused by pro-Russian military forces assuming control of the Ukrainian region of Crimea, about 400 miles from Sochi, ParalympicsGB chief executive Tim Hollingsworth says the athletes feel safe at the Games.
leftFile photo of Sonja Gaudet 
Sochi, Russia — Yesterday,  of , Colorado was named the United States flag bearer for the 2014 Winter Paralympics opening ceremony scheduled to take place tomorrow in Sochi, Russia. Lujan is a  veteran, and will be competing in the  at this year's Games.

In Sochi, Lujan is rooming with , the  United States flag bearer.  Like Lujan, Calhoun is also a veteran, having served in the army.

In 2003, while serving in Iraq, Lujan ruptured two discs in his back.  Following a back surgery in 2005 that attempted to fix the discs, he had complications that resulted in permanent nerve damage and paralysis in his lower legs. 

Also yesterday,   was named the flag bearer of the Canadian delegation. 

Earlier today, skier Millie Knight was selected as the flagbearer for .  At 15 years of age, Knight is the youngest member of Team GB.


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