LeBron to Carry US Flag in Olympics Opening Ceremony; Bass Set to Attend

LOS ANGELES (CNS) - There will be a heavy Los Angeles presence in Friday's Olympics opening ceremony in Paris, with Laker star LeBron James as the U.S. male flag bearer and Mayor Karen Bass part of the official presidential delegation.

James was selected in a vote of U.S. Olympic team members through a process led by the team's Athletes' Commission, which serves as the representative group and voice of team members.

"It's an incredible honor to represent the United States on this global stage, especially in a moment that can bring the whole world together," James said in a statement Monday following the announcement he would be a flag bearer.

"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 I'm proud to be a part of this important moment."

James is the third basketball player and first male basketball player to be a U.S. flag bearer. The others were Sue Bird in the coronavirus-delayed Tokyo Games in 2021 and Dawn Staley in 2004.

The Paris Games are the 39-year-old James' fourth Olympics. He was part of the gold medal-winning U.S. men's basketball teams in 2008 and 2012 and the bronze medal-winning team in 2004.

James' selection as a flag bearer drew criticism from Riley Gaines, the former Kentucky swimming star who describes herself as a women's rights activist for her fight against allowing transgender girls or women to compete in girls' or women's events.

"Anyone who has ever knelt for the national anthem should be disqualified from this honor," Gaines wrote on social media Wednesday.

James knelt for the national anthem before the Lakers' July 30, 2020, game against the Clippers, their first since the in-custody death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. to protest systemic racism.

There was no immediate reply to an email sent to the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee early Friday morning Paris time seeking a response to Gaines' comment.

Tennis star Coco Gauff was selected as the U.S. female flag bearer. Beginning with the Tokyo Games, nations have been allowed to have both a male and female flag bearer instead of just one.

Bass will walk with Mayor Mathieu Hanotin of Saint-Denis, France on one of the final legs of the Olympic torch relay Friday, meet with Deputy Mayor Krista Adams of Brisbane, Australia, to discuss expanding collaboration as host cities ahead of the 2028 and 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and join Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo at the opening ceremony.

Bass arrived in Paris late Thursday morning with first lady Jill Biden and other members of the presidential delegation, which also includes Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California. Bass will be in Paris through Sunday then return Aug. 7-12 to continue meetings to prepare to host the 2028 Games.

NBC's live coverage of the opening ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time with a 90-minute preview show, followed by the ceremony at 10:30 a.m., which will also be streamed on Peacock. Spanish-language coverage will begin at 10 a.m. on Telemundo.

The prime-time replay will begin at 7:30 p.m. on NBC and Peacock and include additional content from the live broadcast.

The ceremony is expected to be more than four hours. More than 350 of the 592 members of the U.S. team are set to participate, according to the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee.

The U.S. will be on the second-to-last boat in the parade of nations on the Seine River, with the order based on U.S. serving as host to the next Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028. Host country France will be in the final boat.