LeBron James wasn맥스카지노�t totally sure what the opening ceremony was all about when he was picked for his first Olympics in 2004.This time, he맥스카지노�ll be one of the stars of the show.James has been picked by his fellow U.S. Olympians to serve as the male flagbearer for the Americans in Friday night맥스카지노�s opening ceremony for the Paris Games. He becomes the third basketball player 맥스카지노� and the first men맥스카지노�s player 맥스카지노� to carry the U.S. flag at the start of an Olympics, joining Dawn Staley for the Athens Games in 2004 and Sue Bird for the Tokyo Games that happened in 2021.맥스카지노�It맥스카지노�s an incredible honor to represent the United States on this global stage, especially in a moment that can bring the whole world together,맥스카지노� James said. 맥스카지노�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. Sports have the power to bring us all together, and I맥스카지노�m proud to be a part of this important moment.맥스카지노�The 39-year-old James got word of the honor Monday in London, a few hours before the U.S. men맥스카지노�s team was scheduled to play its final pre-Olympics exhibition game against World Cup champion Germany.Fellow U.S. star and first-time Olympian Stephen Curry, on behalf of the U.S. men's team, nominated James for the flagbearer role.맥스카지노�We understand how much of an honor it is to be in that position and I think Bron맥스카지노�s entire career, on and off the court, speaks for itself as him being worthy of that honor,맥스카지노� Curry said in the nomination video.맥스카지노�He has represented what it means to be excellent both on and off the court in his commitment to service and to uplifting the community in all ways that he knows how has been a lifelong passion,맥스카지노� Curry added. 맥스카지노�And the work speaks for itself.맥스카지노�The female U.S. flagbearer is expected to be revealed Tuesday. The International Olympic Committee decided in 2020 that national delegations would have two flagbearers 맥스카지노� one male, one female 맥스카지노� at the opening ceremony at an Olympics, a move to promote gender parity. The U.S. is expected to have nearly 600 athletes in the Paris Games, about 53% of them female.맥스카지노�Being selected by your teammates to carry the flag is a tremendous honor 맥스카지노� and a testament to LeBron맥스카지노�s passion for Team USA and his dedication to his sport," U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee CEO Sarah Hirshland said.James 맥스카지노� a global icon, a four-time NBA champion and the league맥스카지노�s all-time leading scorer set to go into his record-tying 22nd NBA season 맥스카지노� is set to play in the Olympics for the fourth time, after he was part of U.S. teams that won bronze in 2004, gold at Beijing in 2008 and gold again in London in 2012. He walked in the opening ceremony at each of his three previous Olympics.This time, he맥스카지노�ll float.This will be an opening ceremony like none other in Olympic history: Thousands of athletes will be part of a flotilla sailing along the River Seine at sunset toward the Eiffel Tower. It맥스카지노�s a 3.7-mile route, with about 320,000 guests set to watch from the river bank and about 1 billion more, Olympic officials estimate, watching on televisions around the world.Not all Olympic athletes take part in the opening ceremony; many skip it for logistical reasons, such as having to compete the following day. James and the four-time defending gold medalist U.S. men don맥스카지노�t open Olympic play until Sunday, when they face Serbia at Lille, France.James and the U.S. Olympians will be waiting longer than almost any other nation for their trip on the Seine. By IOC custom, Greece 맥스카지노� which will have NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo as one of its two flagbearers 맥스카지노� will lead the procession, followed by the Refugee Olympic Team and then about 200 more national delegations. The U.S. is scheduled to go next-to-last in the procession, because Los Angeles will play host to the next Summer Games in 2028.France, as the host, will be the final nation in the opening ceremony procession. Its men맥스카지노�s basketball team, featuring reigning NBA rookie of the year Victor Wembanyama, opens Olympic play on Saturday and isn맥스카지노�t expected to be present for the opening ceremony.