LeBron James, a soon-to-be four-time Olympian shooting for his third gold medal, will carry the American flag for the United States delegation during the Paris Games opening ceremony Friday along the River Seine, the New York Times reports.
The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee said Monday in a news release that James had won a vote among nearly 600 members of Team USA to carry the flag. A female athlete was also selected and the committee said that vote would be revealed Tuesday.
“It’s an incredible honor to represent the United States on this global stage, especially in a moment that can bring the whole world together,” said James, 39, whose popularity has soared well beyond his country as the face of the NBA and the sport’s all-time leading scorer.
“For a kid from Akron, this responsibility means everything to not only myself, but to my family, all the kids in my hometown, my teammates, fellow Olympians and so many people across the country with big aspirations,” he said. “Sports have the power to bring us all together, and I’m proud to be a part of this important moment.”
Two other USA Basketball players — Sue Bird in 2021 and Dawn Staley in 2004 — have served as flag bearers. Steph Curry, who is competing in his first Olympics, was also nominated.
James was on the 2004 Olympic team that finished third in Greece, and was co-captain of the “Redeem Team” in 2008 that started the current string of four consecutive Olympic golds for the American men. He last played in the Olympics in 2012 in London, where he and the current American team will play an exhibition Monday night against Germany.
James is Team USA’s all-time leader in assists. He is also a four-time NBA champion and four-time league MVP, and has appeared in more All-Star games (20) than any player in history.
“We will watch with great pride as the flag bearers lead our athletes who are about to embark on a remarkable journey together,” Sarah Hirshland, chief executive of the USOPC, said in a release.
The Olympic opening ceremony — the first ever outside a stadium — will start at 7:30 p.m. in Paris (1:30 p.m. in New York) and will be shown live on NBC. Delegations are set to float on barges down the river and exit underneath the Eiffel Tower.
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