Being selected as the flag bearer, representing the country’s sports, is always a noble honor for any athlete participating in the Olympics. The US sports delegation also selected one male and one female athlete from the 592 names participating in the 2024 Paris Olympics to be the flag bearers at the opening ceremony.
In which, the identity of the male athlete is the world-famous basketball star LeBron James. Why did “King James” have this honor?
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On July 21, the U.S. Olympic Committee announced that LeBron James will be the men’s flag bearer for the 2024 Olympics opening ceremony. James and his teammates are the second mixed-gender duo to have this honor at the Olympics. The first pair to share the honor were WNBA star Sue Bird and Olympic medalist Eddy Alvarez in speed skating and baseball.
LeBron James is the first male basketball player to serve as a flag bearer for the U.S. Olympic team. If women’s basketball is included, he is the third, after Bird (2021) and Dawn Staley (2000).
Why was LeBron James chosen as the flag bearer?
With his legendary contributions to the NBA in particular and American basketball in general, LeBron James was voted by his colleagues in the US Sports Delegation to receive this honor.
The move is also a beautiful tribute to James’ contributions to the sports of the land of the flag. It is also understandable, because this is the 4th Olympic Games that the 39-year-old shooter has participated in – and certainly the last.
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LeBron James previously contributed to two Olympic gold medals for the United States in 2008 and 2012. In addition to his quest for gold, the Los Angeles Lakers star has another goal: to become the second-highest scorer for the United States at the Olympics.
USOC Director Sarah Hirshland said: “Being chosen by his peers to be the flag bearer is a proud honor – and a tribute to the passion and dedication that LeBron has brought to American basketball and sports.”
The 1956 Olympics were a special case. The equestrian event had to be held in Stockholm, Sweden, instead of Melbourne, because host Australia had extremely strict entry laws for horses. As a result, Norman Armitage carried the flag for the United States in Melbourne, while Warren Wooford represented the United States in Stockholm.
