Isinbayeva refuses to carry Russian flag

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.russiatoday.ru/sports/news/18684

World record setter refuses to carry Russian flag
Russian pole vault record holder Elena Isinbayeva will captain the country's athletics team at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, but she turned down the request to carry her country's national flag.
The 25 year old athlete was also asked to carry her country's national flag, but turned down the request citing performance reasons, adding that it was simply too heavy.

Isinbayeva, who had set world pole vault record 20 times during her celebrated career, was a clearly worthy candidate.

But she won’t be bearing the Russian flag at the games, as the athletics section of the tournament starts a week after the opening ceremony on August 8.

[BruceFlorman]

I think "declines" might have been a more apt verb than "refuses".

[rainbowgirl28]

I think "declines" might have been a more apt verb than "refuses".

They should hire you as a translator