At the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, French Olympic track and field star Marie-José Pérec carried the 
French flag to kick off the game and was the last female to be name as the French flag-bearer.
And with the 2012 London games are right around the corner, the 1996 three-time gold medal winner gave a ringing endorsement for San Antonio Spurs and fellow French athlete Tony Parker to be the next flag-bearer for France.
“It is important that the France team is led, and driven by someone who brings something. Tony, in the media, is very important.”
What even gave Pérec more reason to back Parker for the honor was how she liked that Parker asked to be the flag-bearer. Something which has never been done before according to her.
“What I liked is that Tony Parker went to the CNOSF (French National Sports and Olympic Committee) to ask them, and it had never been done before. I think it’s a beautiful process. I think Tony Parker would make a beautiful flag bearer.”
And even though Pérec says there’s a lot of pressure which comes with the job, she feels Parker can handle the pressure because of his strong mind.
With Parker leading the French national team at Eurobasket 2011 to a silver medal and an Olympic birth and not to mention him playing for ASVEL-Villeurbanne, there is little doubt Spurs fans will be seeing Tony led all French athletes this summer in London during the opening ceremonies.
