The United States picked two flag bearers for the opening ceremony on Friday, and then immediately replaced one of them.
The curler John Shuster and the bobsledder Elana Meyers Taylor had been chosen to carry the U.S. flag through Beijing National Stadium, known as the Bird’s Nest, where the opening ceremony will take place on Friday night. The parade of nations, or the processional of every participating delegation into the stadium before the Olympic torch is lit, is considered the backbone of the opening ceremony, which officially kicks off the Games.
But Meyers Taylor, a three-time Olympic medalist and one of the most decorated American bobsledders, will not take part.