Swimmer Emma Harvey and cyclist Conor White are thrilled to have been named as Bermuda’s flag-bearers for the opening ceremony today at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile.

The duo, who won three medals between them at this year’s Central American and Caribbean Games in El Salvador, are part of the island’s team of 11 participants at the Games, which officially start tomorrow.

Harvey, who was beaming at the athletes village yesterday, described the joy she feels at landing the prestigious role which will be viewed by millions of people around the world.

“It’s always such a huge honour to just represent Bermuda and on top of that to be the flag-bearer is going to be incredible,” Harvey said.

“It’s one of those things that am I going to cherish for the rest of my life. As an athlete it’s also a cool experience to be a part of something that isn’t necessarily a competition in itself, but to represent your country outright is amazing in its own right.”

The only worry Harvey may have at the opening ceremony is the weight of the flag, with a heavy Bermuda emblem hopefully not weakening her muscles ahead of her opening event on Sunday.

“I haven’t had a test yet but I’m hoping the designers of the flag-bearers have kept that in mind but either way it will be a good little warm-up for Sunday,” she said.

“I’ll just have to switch arms halfway through. It will be an amazing experience and hopefully it doesn’t wear out my legs too much. I’m sure in those moments the adrenalin and the energy surrounding you I feel like even if the flag was 100lb it would probably feel nothing.”

Harvey’s brother, Jack, is also at the Games and the opportunity to carry the flag gives her an opportunity for family bragging rights.

“We have a little tally going but he is a little younger than me, so he’s got a couple of years to catch up. He’s been training well and I think he’s going to do well here.”

White comes into this championship off the back of a gold medal in the time-trial at the Caribbean Championships in Guadeloupe is pleased to have been given the responsibility of leading Bermuda into the Estadio Nacional in Chile.

“It’s a great honour to be able to fly the flag with Emma tomorrow in the opening ceremony and especially to be chosen on my birthday,” White said.

“It’s cool to be seen on the TV. I remember watching the Olympics and thinking that would be cool to do but it’s not something I had as a major goal of mine because you never know how the selection process works. It’s awesome to get to do it but I wasn’t coming here with the aim of being a flag-bearer. Now that I am, it’s a real honour.”

Bermuda chef de mission Julia Hawley, had earlier in the day revealed the thinking process behind the selection with the athletes previous performances this year going a long way to cementing the status in the minds of the selection panel

“I am very happy to announce that Emma Harvey and Conor White have been selected as flag-bearers for Team Bermuda at the opening ceremony on Friday,’’ said Hawley.

“Emma won two medals at CAC Games this year [silver and bronze] and Conor won a bronze medal at these Games. Congratulations to Emma and Conor as they lead our Bermuda flag and team at the opening ceremony.”

The Bermuda flag was unveiled at the athletes village on Monday in a ceremony attended by Hawley.

Flags of the 41 countries participating in the event are now the first things athletes and visiting officials and dignitaries see when they enter the village that will be home to more than 6,000 competitors during the course of the three-week festival of sport