Shelley Rudman has been handed the honour of carrying the British flag at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver on Friday.

Rudman collected a silver medal in the skeleton event four years ago in Turin and is expected to go close again at Whistler.

To add to her flag-bearing duties, she has been handed a team captaincy role alongside curling skip David Murdoch in a move to give younger athletes leadership and support.

The 29-year-old will captain the athletes based in Whistler, with Murdoch taking charge of those stationed in Vancouver.

Speaking ahead of the event, she said: "I am so excited to be selected to carry the flag for Team GB.

"It's a huge honour for me to have been chosen to represent our team, and ultimately our country, in this way.

"It's an added privilege to be named as team captain for the Whistler athletes and when I look at some of the talented competitors we have up in the mountains, it's very exciting."