http://www.rte.ie/sport/olympics/tennis/2012/0710/328608-x-zxz/
Russian Olympic chiefs name Maria Sharapova as flag-bearer in London
Tuesday, 10 Jul 2012
Maria Sharapova will be Russia’s first female Olympic flag-bearer at the London 2012 Games.
“Sharapova will carry our flag,” president of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) Alexander Zhukov told reporters following an executive board meeting.
The 25-year-old will be making her Olympic debut in London after failing to qualify for the 2004 Games in Athens and missing the 2008 edition in Beijing with a shoulder injury.
Russia broke with tradition by naming Sharapova, who also won Wimbledon (2004), US Open (2006) and Australian Open (2008) titles, for the rare honour.
Since the Russians first took part in the 1952 Summer Games in Helsinki as part of the Soviet Union….”