Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo Will Be Greece’s Flag Bearer at 2024 Paris Olympics

Doric SamJuly 9, 2024

ARIS MESSINIS/AFP via Getty Images

After leading the Greek men’s basketball team to its first Olympics appearance since 2008, Giannis Antetokounmpo received an honor that he will surely remember for the rest of his life.

Per Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Hellenic Olympic Committee named Antetokounmpo a flag bearer for the opening ceremonies of the Paris Olympics on the Seine River on July 26. Along with race walker Antigoni Drisbioti, the 29-year-old will be one of the first athletes to open the Games, as Greece typically leads the parade of nations due to its ancient history with the Olympics.

Eurohoops @EurohoopsnetJust a kid from Sepolia… How far he has come ❤️

🇬🇷 Giannis will be Greece´s flag bearer in the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics! pic.twitter.com/Oo00Xp2cs4

He will be the first Black athlete ever to bear the flag for Greece in the Olympics, per Owczarski.

Antetokounmpo and the Greek national team secured their spot in the Summer Games by defeating Croatia on Sunday. The Milwaukee Bucks star was visibly emotional after the win.

Bleacher Report @BleacherReportGiannis emotional after qualifying for Olympics 🥹💙

He leads Greece to their first Olympics since 2008 🇬🇷

(via @FIBA)pic.twitter.com/eM31ZxPoL2

It will be special to watch Antetokounmpo represent his home country on the world stage when the Olympics begin later this month.