Stars to carry flags

The details to the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympic Games have still yet to emerge, but we know who will carry their national flags. Among the 204 national teams, world-class athletes will represent their countries as the flagbearers.

Carrying the South Korean flag at the opening ceremony Friday is veteran handball player Yoon Kyung-shin, 39, the player-coach of the Korean men’s handball team that is determined to repeat the glory of 1988 in London this summer. The Korean team punched its ticket to London in November for a fourth-straight Olympic appearance.

The face for Team Russia is Maria Sharapova, 25, who is eying an Olympic gold completing the Career Slam at the final of the Roland Garros French Open in Paris, France.

For Switzerland, it’s another tennis player Stanislas Wawrinka, 27, who will carry their national flag at the opening ceremony.

Compatriot Roger Federer, served the duty both in Beijing and Athens. Wawrinka, the world number 26, won doubles gold with Federer four years ago.

Novak Djokovic, 25, former No. 1 tennis player, will lead in the Serbia team, and while Wimbledon runner-up Agnieszka Radwanska has the honor for Poland.

For South Africa, former 800-meter world champion Caster Semenya, 21, will carry her country’s flag. Gideon Sam, the president of the South African Olympic Committee cited Semenya as “an absolute role model for all sportsmen and women in South Africa.”

For host nation, four-time gold medalist cycler Chris Hoy, 36, will uphold the Union Jack at Friday’s ceremony.

Also, Team Spain announced that basket baller Pau Gasol, 32, who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers, will carry the flag. He replaces Rafael Nadal, who pulled out of the Olympics due to an injury. <The Korea Times/Kim Ji-soo>

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