Sophie Pascoe will be the first para-athlete to bear the kiwi flag at the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony.
Sophie's Christchurch based grandmother, Yvonne Goodman says its always been Sophie's goal to bring para-athletics into the limelight.
"This is what Sophie has been aiming for, to bring the paralympic movement into the fore... It's something that she's always wanted to do as far as athletics goes".
She says Sophie told her she would carry the flag weeks before it was officially announced.
"Sophie rang me and she said 'Nana, can you keep a secret?' And I said, 'Well you know I can, love'."
Yvonne Goodman says she even had to keep it a secret from Sophie's mum and dad.
Sophie Pascoe will lead the New Zealand Commonwealth games squad at the opening ceremony tonight. Coverage starts at 9pm New Zealand time.