NBA Star Set to Make History as First Black Greek Olympic Flagbearer.

Greek basketball sensation Giannis Antetokounmpo is set to make history as the first black athlete chosen to carry Greece's flag at the Olympics. 

Known for his electrifying play in the NBA and revered in Greece for his athletic prowess, Antetokounmpo's selection marks a significant cultural and sporting milestone. 

His journey from humble beginnings as the son of Nigerian immigrants to global basketball stardom epitomizes the Olympic spirit of perseverance and achievement. 

Antetokounmpo's honor as flagbearer is not only a personal triumph but also a symbol of diversity and inclusivity in Greek sports history.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, the two-time NBA MVP, will proudly carry the flag alongside race walker Antigoni Ntrismpioti at the Olympics in Paris on 26 July. His selection comes as the Greek men's basketball team qualifies for their first Olympic Games since 2008, celebrating a victory over Croatia in front of a jubilant home crowd in Piraeus.

The 29-year-old, drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2013 and leading them to an NBA title in 2021, was visibly emotional after securing Olympic qualification. "It's an incredible feeling," he shared. "Playing in the Olympic Games has been a dream since I was a kid."

Antetokounmpo's journey to becoming Greece's Olympic flagbearer has been marked by challenges. His parents emigrated from Nigeria, and for the first 18 years of his life, he faced statelessness, lacking citizenship from either Greece or Nigeria. 

He finally received Greek citizenship in May 2013, just before the NBA draft, clearing the way for his remarkable career and this prestigious honor as Greece's flagbearer at the Olympics.