---------------------------------------------------------------------------
**** http://www.GOANET.org ****
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Goanet joins Noel Rebello to raise money for Daddy's Home (Margao, Goa)
Sponsor Noel as he climbs Mt. Kilimanjaro (5,882m or 19,298 ft)
Make a donation at www.Goanet.org, click on MAKE A DONATION,
state "Daddy's Home" in the Donation comments
For more information see: http://bit.ly/SupportDaddysHome
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/events-tournaments/commonwealth-games/top-stories/Canadas-flagbearer-for-Commonwealth-Games-is-ethnic-Goan/a
NEW DELHI: Ken Pereira, a hockey veteran of Indian origin, has been selected to
carry the flag for Canada at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games.
The two-time Olympian's family hails from Goa, although he was born in Toronto,
and he is naturally thrilled to lead the 225-member strong contingent in New
Delhi.
"I'm just picturing that moment...of holding that flag and walking out having
300 to 400 Canadians behind me," Canadian newspaper The Globe And Mail quoted
Pereira as saying. "It's especially sweet because it's the birthplace of my
parents. We still have a lot of family over there and I'm sure they'll come out
and support the Canadian team," added the 37-year-old, who captained the
Canadian team in the World Cup in New Delhi this February.
The midfielder from Unionville, Ontario, has earned over 300 international caps
and is the first team-sport athlete to become the Canadian flagbearer for the
CWG. He has made three previous Commonwealth Games appearances, and now plays
professional hockey for Dutch club HGC.
As a child, Ken Pereira (37) harboured dreams of playing ice hockey, which is a
much bigger sport than field hockey in Canada. But his hopes were dashed when
he
realized he was too small to play professionally.
But Pereira - who will be flag-bearer for the Canadian contingent during the
CWG
opening ceremony in New Delhi-said he never thought of changing his citizenship
to play in India or elsewhere.
"Just being born in Canada, I couldn't imagine playing for another country," he
said. "Even though (field) hockey is bigger in other countries, I couldn't
imagine putting on another jersey unless it had the maple leaf on it."
With encouragement from his uncle and cousin, he picked up a field hockey stick
at age 16.
Pereira hopes that the sight of him holding the flag at the Jawaharlal Nehru
Stadium will remind the folks back home in Canada that hockey is also played
off
the ice.
"Some people don't even know that we have a men's field hockey team that goes
to
the Olympics and stuff like that," he said. "I think it will promote the sport
in Canada, for sure.
"
