UPDATE 1-Olympics-Cyclist Meares to carry Australian flag in Rio (Reuters)
(Corrects number of Olympic titles won by Tallent in second para) * Presented with flag in Melbourne * To defend track sprint title in Rio By Ian Ransom MELBOURNE, July 6 (Reuters) – Double Olympic cycling champion Anna Meares will carry Australia’s flag at the opening ceremony of the Rio de Janeiro Games next month. The 32-year-old, who will defend her track sprint title at her fourth Games, edged out other candidates including Olympic race walking champion Jared Tallent and 37-year-old hockey stalwart Jamie Dwyer for the honour. Breaking from a tradition of naming the flagbearer in the days before the opening ceremony, Australian chef de mission Kitty Chiller presented Meares with the flag at a ceremony at Melbourne’s Federation Square on Wednesday.