LeBron James wasn’t entirely sure what the opening ceremony was all about when he was selected for his first Olympics in 2004.
Now he will be one of the main stars of the show.
James was chosen by his fellow U.S. teammates to be the men’s flag bearer at Friday night’s opening ceremony for the Paris 2024 Games. He becomes the third player, and the first male player, to carry the American flag at the start of the Olympics, joining Dawn Staley, who did so in Athens in 2004, and Sue Bird, who will carry the flag in Tokyo in 2021.
“It’s an incredible honor to represent the United States on this global stage, especially at a time when the world is coming together,” James said. “For a kid from Akron, this responsibility means everything – not just to me, but to my family, all the kids in my hometown, my teammates and the delegation and so many people around the country with high aspirations. Sports have the power to unite us and I’m proud to be a part of this important moment.”
James, 39, received the honor of being the flag bearer on Monday in London, just hours before the U.S. men’s team played a pre-Olympic warm-up match against World Cup champion Germany.
Teammate and first-time Olympian Stephen Curry, on behalf of the U.S. men’s team, nominated James for the role of flag bearer.
“We understand what an honor it is to be in that position and I think Bron’s entire career, on and off the court, speaks for itself that he is worthy of that honor,” Curry said in the nomination video.
“He has embodied what it means to be great both on and off the court in his commitment to service and uplifting the community in every way and shape he knows how, it has been a lifelong passion,” Curry added. “And the work speaks for itself.”
The U.S. flag bearer is expected to be revealed Tuesday. The International Olympic Committee decided in 2020 that national delegations would have two flag bearers — one man and one woman — at the Olympics opening ceremony, a move to promote gender parity. The U.S. is expected to have nearly 600 athletes at the Paris Games, about 53% of them women.
Source: AP