The Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics will be an unprecedented event that will make history as the first Olympic Opening Ceremony to be held on the water rather than in a stadium. 

Athletes will be transported by boat along the Seine, starting from the Austerlitz Bridge and passing some of Paris’ most iconic landmarks, culminating at the Trocadero. 

Here is a list of notable flag bearers to watch for during the Parade of Nations.

Check out live blog coverage for all the latest updates from the Seine during the 2024 Opening Ceremony!"

Two reigning Olympic champions will carry the Canadian flag: sprinter Andre De Grasse and weightlifter Maude Charron. 

De Grasse, Canada’s most decorated summer Olympian with six Olympic medals, achieved a historic milestone with his gold-medal triumph at the 2020 Olympics, marking Canada’s first Olympic gold in track in 25 years and the first in the 200m event in 93 years. 

Meanwhile, Charron secured gold in the women’s 64kg weightlifting event in Tokyo. In her second Olympic appearance, she will compete in the 59kg category following the removal of her former weight class from the Olympic program.

Table tennis icon Ma Long and artistic swimmer Feng Yu have been selected to carry the flag for China.

 Ma Long is undisputedly the most accomplished table tennis player in history, boasting an unparalleled record: five Olympic gold medals, three singles world championships, and the longest tenure as the world's No. 1 player. 

Feng Yu, a gold medalist and two-time silver medalist at the 2017 World Aquatics Championships, is aiming to secure her first Olympic medal in Paris.

Four-time Olympic swimming medalist Florent Manaudou, renowned for his gold medal in the 50m freestyle at the 2012 London Olympics, will proudly represent the host nation of France during the Parade of Nations.

When the Olympic torch arrived in Marseille, Manaudou also served as the first Torchbearer for France as part of the Olympic Torch Relay. 

Joining him is Melina Robert-Michon, a silver medalist in the discus throw at the 2016 Olympics.

Boxer Cindy Ngamba from Cameroon, now residing in the United Kingdom, and taekwondo athlete Yahya Al-Ghotany, who fled Syria during the civil war and currently lives in Jordan, have been chosen to carry the Olympic flag for the IOC Refugee Olympic Team. 

Ngamba is the first boxer to be selected for the team and will get to fight in front of her mother who resides in Paris. 

Al-Ghotany took up taekwondo after settling in a refugee camp in Jordan and achieved the rank of 2nd dan black belt within five years of starting the sport.

Husband and wife rowers Marius Cozmiuc and Ionela Cozmiuc will jointly carry the Romanian flag.

Marius earned a silver medal in the coxless pair in Tokyo and is a world champion in the event from 2022, while Ionela is a three-time world champion (twice in the lightweight double skulls and once in the lightweight single skulls). Ionela will be seeking her first Olympic medal in Paris.

Men’s basketball star LeBron James and tennis player Coco Gauff will serve as the U.S. flag bearers at the Opening Ceremony. 

James, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, becomes just the third basketball player — and the first male player — to lead the U.S. delegation at the beginning of an Olympics, following in the footsteps of Dawn Staley at the 2004 Athens Games and Sue Bird at the 2021 Tokyo Games. 

Standing next to James will be the Olympic rookie. Gauff is the first tennis player to be a U.S. flag bearer in addition to being the youngest American (age 20) to ever hold the honor. 

Tokyo Olympic triple jump Olympic champion Yulimar Rojas will miss out on the opportunity to defend her title after tearing her Achilles during training back in April. However, Rojas will still be in Paris carrying the flag for Venezuela alongside weightlifting Olympic silver medalist Julio Mayora. 

How are flag bearers chosen?

Each country’s NOC is responsible for selecting its flag bearer, however sometimes the flag bearers are chosen by the athletes. The decision can involve various criteria and often reflects the athlete's contributions, achievements, and representation of the country. 

What does a flag bearer symbolize?

The flag bearer represents their country and its values, showcasing national pride and unity on the global stage. Typically, the flag bearer is an athlete who has demonstrated exceptional skill, dedication, and sportsmanship. They symbolize the pinnacle of achievement and hard work in their sport.

How many NBA players have been flag bearers at the Opening Ceremony?

The following NBC and WNBA players have lead their respective countries into the Olympic stadium:

• Paris 2024: LeBron James (USA), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece)
• Tokyo 2020: Sue Bird (USA), Rui Hachimura (Japan), Patty Mills (Australia) 
• Rio 2016: Luis Scola (Argentina) 
• London 2012: Pau Gasol (Spain), Lauren Jackson (Australia), Yi Jianlian (China), Andrei Kirilenko (Russia)
• Beijing 2008: Manu Ginobili (Argentina), Yao Ming (China), Dirk Nowitzki (Germany)
• Athens 2004: Yao Ming (China), Dawn Staley (USA)

Is the flag bearer of Tonga competing in the Paris Olympics?