Giannis as Greece’s flag-bearer at the Paris Games

Greek basketball player Giannis Antetokounmpo will be, along with race walker Antigoni Drisbioti, the flag-bearer for Greece at the Paris Olympic Games.

There are other top athletes, such as long jump Olympic gold medalist Miltos Tentoglou and pole-vaulter Katerina Stefanidi, who were contacted about becoming flag-bearers, however the symbolism of the Milwaukee Bucks star holding the Greek flag is huge.

The fact that this world-class athlete feels and is Greek sends a powerful message inside and outside Greece.

Antetokounmpo has advertised our country like few have, with what he says, what he does, sometimes even with what he wears (such as the depiction of the Parthenon on the inside lining of his jacket).

Helping take the national basketball team to the Olympic Games for the first time in 16 years, he has not only impressed us with his sports career....