Basketball world champion Dennis Schröder has clearly made his own claims with a view to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. “I have to carry the flag! If not now, then when? It would be a great honor for me,” said the 30-year-old Schröder to “Bild”.
The Toronto Raptors development player led the German national team to their first German World Cup title in Asia in September and thus to the Olympics. Next year’s games will take place in France’s capital from July 26th to August 11th. In 2008, Dirk Nowitzki carried the flag for Germany at the opening ceremony in Beijing.
Schröder once again explicitly referred to standard bearer Nowitzki. “I’ve played for the national team for eleven years now, always giving my all. If I could carry the flag, that would be a cool thing for basketball and for me personally. I would never forget that,” said Schröder. However, the basketball player would see his possible election as standard bearer as more than a purely personal award. “But it would also be a statement for German-Africans and a sign against racism,” said Schröder.
