Four judokas will carry the flags of their countries at the Olympic opening ceremony on Friday.

Canadian Nicolas Gill, Dutch Mark Huizinga, Iranian Arash Miresmailie and Spanish Isabel Fernandez will bear the their respective national flags at the opening ceremony.

They are all gold favorites in their categories.

Gill, two-time Olympic medallist and three-time world champion, is headed to his fourth Olympics. The 32-year-old Montreal native will take part in the men's under-100kg class.

"It's a big surprise for me to carry the flag," Gill told a news conference via satellite hookup from Belgium, where he is training.

"To carry the flag at the opening ceremony will be the best memory from my Olympic career. It's an incredible honor."

Huizinga, 30, heavily favored for the men's under-90kg division, will defend the title he won in Sydney four years ago.

Arash Miresmaieli, 24, world champion in the men's under-66kg category, said: "It's a great honor to carry my country's flag. It's an incredible honor that I will never forget."

He is looking forward to becoming Iran's first gold winner in Olympic judo.

Isabel Fernandez, 32, winner of the women's under-57 kg category in the 2000 Games, will be the only female judoka to carry the Spanish flag.

In Sydney, there were several judoka flag-bearers, such as David Douillet of France and the Japanese national hero Kosei Inoue.