Chris Hoy (picture) will carry Britain’s flag at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games on Friday, the four-time Olympic champion confirmed yesterday.

“I’m absolutely delighted and honoured to have been voted as the flag bearer for Team GB,” said the 36-year-old cyclist.

“To lead out your team at a home Olympics is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity and one that I can’t wait to experience in just a few days time.”

Hoy also carried the Union Jack at the closing ceremony in Beijing four years ago.

The Scot is one of Britain’s most successful Olympians, having won four gold medals, including three at Beijing in 2008.

Meanwhile, London 2012 supremo Sebastian Coe insisted it was not down to him to select the person who would light the torch at Friday’s ceremony, amid reports he’d been pushing the claims of fellow double Olympic gold medallist Daley Thompson over those of multiple Games rowing champion Steve Redgrave.

Coe said the issue of the torch-lighter would be decided by the opening ceremony teams headed by film and stage directors Danny Boyle and Stephen Daldry.

Traditionally, the identity of the torch-lighter is one of any Games’ best kept secrets until the climax of the opening ceremony and can, as was the case with Muhammad Ali at Atlanta in 1996, provide an Olympics with one of its most enduring images.