Team Scotland is delighted to reveal our two flagbearers for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony, which takes place at Alexander Stadium on 28^th July.

Glasgow 2014 and Gold Coast 2018 medallist Kirsty Gilmour and Paralympic bronze medallist Micky Yule have both been selected by their Team Scotland peers for the honour, which will see Scotland have two flagbearers for the first time in Games history.

Birmingham will be Kirsty’s fourth Commonwealth Games for Team Scotland. She won her first Scotland senior caps at 16 years old and became the youngest badminton player to attend a Commonwealth Games for Scotland when she competed at Delhi 2010 having just turned 17. She then went on to compete at the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2011, winning singles bronze.

At Glasgow 2014 she became the first Scottish woman to reach a Commonwealth Games Badminton singles final, winning silver, and Gold Coast 2018 saw her return to the podium with a second successive singles medal, this time a bronze.

A double Olympian, competing at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Games, Kirsty has added a wealth of international medals to her name including three European Championship medals – silver in both 2016 and 2017 and bronze in 2021. She became the first Scottish woman to win the Scottish Open since 2009 when she took victory in the Singles in November 2017 and took bronze at the 2019 European Games in Minsk as part of Scotland’s bronze medal winning team at the 2020 European Team Championships.

Micky will feature at his third Commonwealth Games at Birmingham 2022, having become the first Scottish athlete to compete in Para-Powerlifting at the 2014 Games in Glasgow, where he finished fourth. He returned for Gold Coast 2018, just missing out on a medal again, coming fourth for his second consecutive Games.

Having finished sixth on his Paralympic debut at Rio 2016, he put in a fabulous performance to win bronze at Tokyo 2020 with a lift of 182kg.

A member of the British Army, Micky was injured by an improvised explosive device (IED) whilst serving in Afghanistan in 2010, an injury that required more than 40 operations and left him a double amputee. Having competed in Power-lifting competitions for the Army since 2007, he took a year to recover before getting back into the gym in 2011 and competing for Great Britain in Para-Sport Powerlifting competitions.

Commenting on her prestigious selection Kirsty said, “I am over the moon to have been selected by my fellow athletes to carry the flag for Scotland. Representing Scotland has always been a huge honour but to be named flagbearer for a Games so close to home is amazing.

“What makes this even more special is that I will be walking alongside Micky who is an inspirational athlete and I have no doubt it will a very special moment for both of us. For me personally, I am also the first openly gay athlete to carry the flag for Scotland – a huge honour for me and for everyone in the LGBTQ community. I can’t wait to get to Alexander Stadium now.”

Chair of Commonwealth Games Scotland Paul Bush OBE said “This is a fantastic moment for Team Scotland, and for Kirsty and Micky. Selecting two flagbearers who have such an impressive track record in sport is a real honour for us and shows that our athletes are role models and heroes to so many for more than just their sporting achievements. I look forward to seeing them on parade at Alexander Stadium on Thursday.”

Team Scotland Chef de Mission, Elinor Middlemiss said “We are so proud to have selected two amazing flagbearers to lead Scotland into the Stadium on Thursday night. We are really proud of all of they have achieved and to be selected by their fellow athletes is recognition of how highly regarded they are within Scottish sport. We couldn’t wish for two better athletes to lead our team into the Games.”

Maree Todd, Minister for Public Health, Women’s Health and Sport said: “I am delighted that Kirsty and Micky will lead the Team into the Opening Ceremony as flagbearers. To be selected by their fellow team members demonstrates how worthy and experienced they are as athletes. I am sure it will be a proud moment and everyone in the Ceremony and at home will be cheering them on.”

The Opening Ceremony for the Birmingham 2022 Games takes place at Alexander Stadium on 28^th July  2022.