Elton Tucker, Assistant Sports Editor

GUADALAJARA, Mexico :

Two-time Pan American Games representative, cyclist Marloe Rodman, will be Jamaica's flag bearer when the XVI Pan American Games open this evening, at 8 o'clock, inside the Omnilife Chivas Stadium in Guadalajara.

Rodman represented Jamaica in the 160 kilometres road race in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, four years ago and in the absence of the track and field team, which will not be here until October 20, is one of the senior representatives here.

Chef de mission of the Jamaican delegation, Compton Rodney, said the first choice would have been many-time national representative Maurice Smith, who won gold in the men's decathlon at the 2007 Games in Rio de Janeiro.

"Our two top recent performers in the team are Smith and Lerone Clarke who won gold in the 100 metres at last year's Common-wealth Games in Delhi, but they will not be here until October 20 when the athletics team arrives. Swimmer Alia Atkinson was the flag bearer the last time in Rio de Janeiro and was outstanding at the Central American and Caribbean Games. She is here but has understandably declined as she will be swimming the following day in the preliminaries of the women's 100 metres butterfly," said Rodney, who was also the head of the Jamaican delegation in Rio de Janeiro four years ago said.

Both the preliminaries and the final of the 100 metres butterfly are on tomorrow. The preliminaries start at 10 a.m. while the final is set for 7 p.m.

Rodman, meanwhile, was delighted to be chosen as the flagbearer.

"It is always a great honour to represent your country," he said from the Games Village last night.

On Wednesday night, athletes from beach volleyball, taekwondo and cycling flew into a cold and rainy Guadalajara and they are expected to be joined by the swimmers, shooters, badminton players and squash representatives at the opening ceremony.

The official flag-raising ceremony which signifies that Jamaica has taken up residence in the Games Village was held yesterday afternoon. Jamaica shared the occasion with fellow Caribbean countries Trinidad and Tobago and Dominica.