Just before the NBA season kickoff, Dennis Schröder has thrown his hat in the ring to be Germany’s flag bearer at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. He cites not only his personal accomplishments, including the World Cup title at the Basketball World Cup held in the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia, but also his desire to make a social statement as the driving force behind his candidacy.
Basketball world champion Dennis Schröder would like to carry the German flag at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris.
“I have to (laughs)! I have to carry the flag! If not now, when? It would be a great honor for me. After all, Dirk (Nowitzki/d. Red.) wore it in 2008,” Schröder told Bild. Nowitzki received the honor 15 years ago in Beijing.
According to national team captain Schröder, the role of flag bearer would also be a social statement: “I have now played eleven years in the national team, always given everything. If I were allowed to carry the flag, that would be a cool thing for basketball and for me personally. I would never forget that. But it would also be a statement for German-Africans and a sign against racism.”
The German national team had sensationally won World Cup gold in Manila in September – and qualified for Paris. Schröder has high hopes for his team at the Games.
SCHRÖDER BELIEVES IN GOLD CHANCE
“If we do our stuff and deliver, we can beat any team in the world. Even against a U.S. team with a top lineup, we have a chance,” said the 30-year-old. Should LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant be there, Schröder said, it would be “difficult” with gold, of course. For that to happen, “everything really has to fit.
The 2024 Summer Games in Paris are scheduled to occur from July 26 to August 11 .
