Sir Chris Hoy has said it will be a huge honour to carry the British flag into the Olympic stadium at Friday's opening ceremony.
The Edinburgh-born cyclist spoke after landing the job yesterday, in recognition of his gold medals and a silver from three previous Games.
Sir Chris revealed he has never attended the event and would have missed out on London too had he not been selected.
Hoy said: "The team is not due to travel until the Saturday. The chances are I probably would not have gone so it's a great opportunity for me in my last Olympics.
"It will be something special and, especially with it being the home Games, it will be quite an experience.
"It's the stuff of dreams and I am still in shock a little bit at receiving such a huge honour."
He said teammate Bradley Wiggins's victory in the Tour de France on Sunday had heightened expectations of cycling gold medals, adding: "The general feeling is just of sheer excitement and anticipation. It is reaching fever pitch."
First Minister Alex Salmond said: "Many congratulations to Sir Chris Hoy. He is Scotland's most successful Olympian and it is fitting that he carry the flag at the opening ceremony. This is a great honour for Chris and I know the whole country will be wishing him well as he aims to add to his already fantastic medal tally at these Games."
Meanwhile, Downing Street last night released details of the UK Government's concerted bid to win billions of pounds worth of trade deals on the back of the Olympics with a list of no fewer than 17 global business summits, making the event the largest of its kind ever held in Britain.
Heads of government, senior diplomats, chief executives from some of the world's leading companies as well as global agency chiefs and policy-makers – numbering some 3000 – will all converge on London to discuss policy developments and potential trade deals in what has already been dubbed the "2012 schmoozathon".
The First Minister and members of his cabinet will also be in the UK capital promoting Scottish interests.
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