NBA Players to carry their National Flag

[Alejandrov011]

BEIJING -- Chinese basketball player Yao Ming will carry the host nation's flag at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games on Friday, the deputy head of China's team said on Thursday.

"The Chinese delegation has already decided that the flag-bearer will be Yao Ming," Cui Dalin told reporters.

Yao, of the Houston Rockets, joins a growing list of NBA stars who will bear their nation's standard during the opening ceremony. FIBA.com reported Thursday that Dirk Nowitzki of Germany will carry the German flag into the Bird's Nest stadium.

"On Friday, I will experience something astonishing," Nowitzki, of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, said in Beijing, according to the report. "I never thought I would be chosen to carry the flag but maybe it's happened because a lot of athletes identify with me."

Manu Ginobili of Argentina, Andrei Kirilenko of Russia and Sarunas Jasikevicius of Lithuania have also been tapped as flag-bearers for the opening ceremony, according to the report.


http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/news/story?id=3523166


Pretty nice... As Argentinian I think that Manu was the right choice... Nowitzki too.

Surprised to see Kirilenko in the list.

[Andrew]

Quite an honour I'm sure. Andrew Gaze carried the flag for Australia in the 2000 Games in Sydney which I wouldn't have expected, I figured a swimmer or track and field athlete would have had the honour.

[NovU]

it'd be fun to see kobe carrying the usa flag.

he's sorta the most loved and the most hated nba figure atm.

it sure will be fun to see how ppl react to it. should be priceless...

[benji]

it [would] be fun to see kobe carrying the usa flag.
...
it sure will be fun to see how ppl react to it. should be priceless...

What?

[Mikki]

The Chinese delegation

LOL that reminded of the Racial Draft where they picked the Wu Tang Clan. Konichiwa, bitches.

Anywho, I think this is a proof that basketball has really globalized and the stars of their respective teams are being recognized and awarded with that such honor.