Gauff, James Named Team USA Flagbearers for Paris Olympics

Basketball legend LeBron James and U.S. Open Champion Coco Gauff are set to carry the flag for Team USA at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony on Friday, a groundbreaking event poised to be one of the largest in Olympic history. This year’s ceremony marks a significant departure from tradition as it will be held outside of a stadium for the first time, taking place along the Seine River, which promises to add a unique and picturesque element to the proceedings.

LeBron James, a global basketball icon, was selected by his fellow Team USA Olympians to be the male flagbearer for the 2024 opening ceremony. Scheduled for July 26 at 1:30 p.m. EDT, James will become the first men’s basketball player to lead the U.S. team into the event. His selection is a testament to his illustrious career and significant contributions to the sport. At 39, James is competing in his fourth Olympics, having already secured two gold medals in previous games (2008 and 2012). He is not only the oldest Team USA men’s basketball player in history but also the first active NBA player to achieve billionaire status, with an estimated net worth of $1.2 billion, highlighting his influence both on and off the court.

Coco Gauff, at just 20 years old, will make history as the youngest person to carry the flag for Team USA and the first tennis player to do so. Gauff’s remarkable rise in the tennis world, capped by her U.S. Open victory, has made her an inspirational figure for young athletes. During a photo shoot with other USA tennis players, her teammate Chris Eubanks surprised her with the news of her selection, adding a heartfelt moment to her already illustrious journey.

This year’s opening ceremony is set to be the largest in the event’s history, with over 300,000 spectators expected to cheer as athletes participate in the Parade of Nations. The parade will follow a 3.7-mile route along the Seine River, beginning at the Austerlitz Bridge and culminating at the Eiffel Tower at the Trocadero, where the final segments of the ceremony will unfold. This scenic route not only highlights the beauty of Paris but also provides a unique backdrop for this historic event. The decision to host the ceremony on boats along the Seine is unprecedented and promises to deliver a visually stunning and memorable experience for both athletes and spectators.

The Parade of Nations is a longstanding Olympic tradition, first held in 1908, featuring athletes marching behind their national flags. This practice symbolizes the introduction of the games and distinguishes the Olympics from other sports competitions. Originally, only 22 countries participated, but the event has since grown to include delegates from around the world, embodying the spirit of international unity and competition. The move to host the parade on the Seine River is a nod to the innovation and grandeur of the Paris Games, further setting this opening ceremony apart from its predecessors.

In addition to the athletes’ parade, viewers can look forward to performances from renowned entertainers. While organizers have remained tight-lipped about the specifics, the inclusion of high-profile acts is expected to add to the spectacle and celebration of the event. This element of surprise only heightens the anticipation and excitement surrounding the ceremony.

One notable aspect of Olympic tradition is the symbolic appearance of doves, which replaced the release of real pigeons from 1936 to 1988. This change, implemented in 1992, continues to symbolize peace and the global unity the Olympics strive to promote. The historic and unprecedented ceremony promises to be a spectacular and memorable start to the Paris Olympics, celebrating the unity and spirit of the Games in a way never seen before.