Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo Will Be Greece's Flag Bearer at 2024 Paris Olympics
July 9, 2024![Greece's Giannis Antetokoumpo reacts with his children as he celebrates the win at the end of the final game of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament between Croatia and Greece to be qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics games, at the Peace and Friendship Stadium in Athens on July 7, 2024. (Photo by Aris MESSINIS / AFP) (Photo by ARIS MESSINIS/AFP via Getty Images)](https://cdn.statically.io/img/media.bleacherreport.com/image/upload/w_40,h_27,c_fill/v1720560253/kxtlv2jgzlrrdd2rhhzc.jpg)
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.
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.
It will be special to watch Antetokounmpo represent his home country on the world stage when the Olympics begin later this month.