Stars 'n' gripes as flag row engulfs US team

American speed skater Shani Davis did not march at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics opening ceremony after losing out on a coin toss to carry his country's flag, a US spokesman said on Friday.

Davis had called the method to decide the role "dishonorable" in a tweet on Thursday when Luger Erin Hamlin was selected to carry the Stars and Stripes instead.

A US speed skating spokesman said Davis had not originally planned to march in the parade of nations later on Friday, but would have made an exception if he had been chosen as flag-bearer.