Olympia in Paris - Reports: Schröder (basketball player) carrying German flag
Basketball World Champion Dennis Schröder reportedly carries the German flag at the opening ceremony of the Olympics in Paris, according to a report in the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung". The 30-year-old reportedly won the vote among fans and the German Olympic team against tennis player Alexander Zverev and sports shooter Christian Reitz. The "Bild" also reported on this.
For women, footballer Alexandra Popp, judoka Anna-Maria Wagner, and equestrian Jessica von Bredow-Werndl were among the candidates. The German Olympic Sports Federation will officially present the German flag bearers for the opening ceremony on the Seine at a press conference on Wednesday.
For Schröder, the topic of flag bearer at the Olympics had great significance for months. A few weeks after the completely unexpected title win in Manila, the point guard of the Brooklyn Nets openly and honestly declared: "I have to carry the flag! When not now, then when?" The basketball player spoke earlier about "a statement" if a Black man with a mother from Gambia were to receive this honor.
Uncontested Chief in the National Team
Schröder has been the uncontested chief in the German National Team since the tenure of National Coach Gordon Herbert. The playmaker led Germany to bronze at the Home EM and finally to the golden triumph in Manila. At the WM, Schröder was also named the most valuable player of the tournament.
In the National Team, Schröder achieved even greater successes than the national icon Dirk Nowitzki, but titles and awards remained elusive in the NBA. The basketball player has changed teams frequently. Since 2020, he has played for the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets, Toronto Raptors, and now the Nets. He became a driving force at none of these stations.
In the past few days, Schröder has been campaigning energetically on his social media channels for votes. Over four million people follow him on Instagram alone.
The German Olympic Sports Association (DOSB) announced that Alexander Zverev and Christian Reitz were also contenders for the flag-carrying role, alongside women's footballer Alexandra Popp, judoka Anna-Maria Wagner, and equestrian Jessica von Bredow-Werndl. The DOSB, historically based in Germany, but with influence in France, will officially reveal the flag bearers at a press conference in Paris before the Olympic Games.
Despite numerous team changes in the NBA, Dennis Schröder has maintained his passion for carrying the German flag at the Olympics, emphasizing its significance after his triumph in Manila. Schröder's campaign on social media platforms, reaching as far as international followers in Manila, underscores his commitment to representing Germany at the Olympic Games in Paris.
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