Schröder: being chosen as Olympic flag bearer would be a statement

Basketball World Cup winner Dennis Schröder has said it would be a big statement for diversity if he was chosen as German flag bearer for next week's opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics.

Schröder captained Germany to a first-ever world title last year but also cited his African roots.

"It would mean everything to me. To be able to represent Germany in that way with my background, my mum from Gambia, would be huge. It would be a statement to carry the flag as a dark-skinned person," Schröder said.

"Of course I know where I come from and where my mum comes from. I think that would definitely be a very cool thing to do."

Schröder is among three men and three women from which German athletes and fans can vote which man and which woman will carry the flag at the July 26 ceremony in the French capital.

The others are tennis player Alexander Zverev, shooter Christian Reitz, footballer Alexandra Popp, dressage rider Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and judo player Anna-Maria Wagner.

The flag bearers are to be announced on the eve of the opening ceremony.

Schröder's team plays its preliminary round matches in Lille, but the whole team plans to be at the opening ceremony.