The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) made the announcement at a press conference in Montreal, Wednesday morning.

The announcement came as the COC also officially named the 331 athletes to represent Canada as Beijing plays host to the world for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad from August 8-24.

The Oakville native was a double-gold medal winner (kayak, K-1 500m) in the 2004 Olympic games in Athens.

"China is preparing an awesome opening ceremony, which I'm thrilled to lead our team of amazing Canadian athletes into," continued van Koeverden. "It's a great feeling to be representing my sport of Canoe-Kayak, our entire Canadian contingent, and everyone back home in Canada. More than anything else, we hope to make every Canadian proud as they see the Maple Leaf enter the Olympic Stadium in Beijing."

At his first Olympic appearance four years ago in Athens, the native of Oakville was one of Canada's brightest success stories.

First he raced to a bronze medal in the K-1 1,000 metres. A day later in the K-1 500-metre sprint, van Koeverden won gold. In so doing, he became the country's first double medalist since Oakville sprinter Donovan Bailey and cyclist Clara Hughes earned two medals each in 1996 in Atlanta.

For this, he was named flag bearer at the Closing Ceremony and later won the Lou Marsh Award as Canada's Male Athlete of the Year.

The sprint kayaker has dominated the World Cup circuit over the past four years, winning the overall title each year from 2004 through 2007. He has won 21 World Cup gold medals, including five this year.

Off the water, van Koeverden is an athlete ambassador for the humanitarian group Right to Play, a group that comes to the aid of disadvantaged youth with sport and activity.

Van Koeverden will lead the Canadian Olympic Team into the brand new Beijing National Stadium, nicknamed the Bird's Nest (owing to its unique design) for the 2008 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony on Aug. 8.

"We are very proud to have Adam van Koeverden carrying Canada's flag into the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games," said COC president Michael Chambers, in a press release. "Adam typifies the Canadian Olympic Committee's passion for sport excellence and integrity, and represents Canada with pride on every occasion."

To view a video of the press conference click here.