Big names, honorable flag bearers
2008-08-08 10:19:35 GMT2008-08-08 18:19:35 (Beijing Time) Xinhua English
Yao Ming, Chinese NBA basketball star, will carry the Chinese national flag at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games. Yao carried the flag four years ago in Athens. (Xinhua Photo)
Fukuhara Ai, a top table tennis player, will carry the Japanese flag at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics. Ai has played table tennis in China since 2005 and is considered a symbol of China-Japan friendship. (Xinhua Photo)
Li Jiawei, the Beijing-born paddler, will carry Singapore's flag at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games. Li ranks 6th in the world and is determined to win a medal in the Games. (Xinhua Photo)
Tony Estanguet, French canoeist and two-time Olympic gold winner, will be the flag bearer for the French national team at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics. Estanguet won gold in the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games consecutively and aims to win his third one in Beijing. (Photo: chinadaily.com.cn/Agencies)
Ilias Iliades, Greek Olympic judo champion, will carry the Greek flag at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Games. Greece is usually the first team to enter at the Olympic opening ceremony. (Photo: chinadaily.com.cn/Agencies)
Big names, honorable flag bearers for the 2008 Olympic Opening Ceremony
