The Hellenic Olympic Committee has announced that Giannis Antetokounmpo and Antigoni Drisbioti will be the flag bearers for Greece during the Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The decision to select Antetokounmpo was unanimous, while Drisbioti, a champion race walker, was chosen through a vote among four athletes: Maria Sakkari, Antigoni Drisbioti, Evangelia Platanioti, and Margarita Plevritou.
Following traditional protocol for selecting the flag bearer, the Hellenic Olympic Committee consulted with Olympic medalists before the meeting. Both Miltiadis Tentoglou and Katerina Stefanidi declined the honor to avoid disrupting their training schedules ahead of their Olympic events. The athletes’ schedules and potential fatigue were also considered, ensuring those competing the next day would not be adversely affected.
In addition to the flag bearer decision, the committee unanimously proposed Spyros Capralos for re-election as president of the European Olympic Committees. The committee also approved Panathinaikos B.C.’s request to use the Panathenaic Stadium on September 21-22 for the Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament.
Flag Bearers’ Biographies
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Born in Athens on December 6, 1994, Giannis Antetokounmpo stands 2.11 meters tall and began his basketball career with Filathlitikos. In 2013, he was selected 15th overall in the NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks, where he still plays today. He has evolved into one of the NBA’s top players and a key member of the Greek national team, with over 49 appearances.
In 2017, he became the first player in NBA history to finish in the top 20 in all five major statistical categories (points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks). That same year, he was named the NBA’s Most Improved Player and made his first of six All-Star appearances. In 2019 and 2020, Antetokounmpo was named NBA MVP. In 2021, he led the Bucks to their first NBA championship in 50 years and was named Finals MVP. He is also included in the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.
Antigoni Drisbioti
Born on March 21, 1984, in Karditsa, Antigoni Drisbioti continues to train there, splitting her time between Greece and Australia since 2023. She has competed with the national team in international competitions across all categories. After a hiatus from race walking and professional sports, she returned with remarkable success. She has participated in two Olympic Games (2016, 2021), World and European Championships, and won a bronze medal at the 2013 Mediterranean Games. She secured a gold medal at the 2021 European Team Championships and a silver medal in both the team standings at the 2022 World and the 2021 European Championships. In the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, she finished eighth. Her standout year was 2022, winning two gold medals (20km and 35km race walk) at the European Championships in Munich, a feat unmatched by any other Greek athlete. She also finished fourth at the 2022 World Championships in Oregon.
Drisbioti holds a degree from the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Science and is pursuing a master’s degree in Sports Management for People with Disabilities at the University of Peloponnese.
History of the Flag Bearers
The tradition of flag bearers began at the 1908 Olympics in London, with Greek bronze medalist in discus, Nikolaos Georgantas, being the first. In 1912, the legendary track and field athlete Konstantinos Tsiklitiras carried the flag, having won two silver medals in 1908 and later achieving a gold and bronze in Stockholm.
From the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics, Greece, as the originator of the Games, was honored to enter the stadium first. Athlete Antonis Karyofyllis was the flag bearer.
Notable Greek flag bearers with Olympic medals include Giorgos Roubanis, then-Prince Constantine, Ilias Hatzipavlis, Stelios Mygiakis, Babis Holidis, Pyrros Dimas, Nikos Kaklamanakis, Ilias Iliadis, Alexandros Nikolaidis, Sofia Bekatorou (the first female flag bearer), and in Tokyo, Anna Korakaki and Lefteris Petrounias (the first duo).
Greek Flag Bearers:
- 1908: Nikolaos Georgantas (Athletics)
- 1912: Konstantinos Tsiklitiras (Athletics)
- 1920: Vasilis Zarkadis (Fencing)
- 1924: Christos Vrettos (Athletics)
- 1928: Antonis Karyofyllis (Athletics)
- 1932: Christos Mantikas (Athletics)
- 1936: Ioannis Seraidaris (Athletics)
- 1948: Giorgos Kalambokidis (Sailing)
- 1952: Nikos Syllas (Athletics)
- 1956: Giorgos Roubanis (Athletics)
- 1960: Prince Constantine (Sailing)
- 1964: Giorgos Marsellos (Athletics)
- 1968: Christos Papanikolaou (Athletics)
- 1972: Christos Papanikolaou (Athletics)
- 1976: Vasilis Papageorgopoulos (Athletics)
- 1980: Ilias Hatzipavlis (Sailing)
- 1984: Stelios Mygiakis (Wrestling)
- 1988: Babis Holidis (Wrestling)
- 1992: Lambros Papakostas (Athletics)
- 1996: Pyrros Dimas (Weightlifting)
- 2000: Nikos Kaklamanakis (Sailing)
- 2004: Pyrros Dimas (Weightlifting)
- 2008: Ilias Iliadis (Judo)
- 2012: Alexandros Nikolaidis (Taekwondo)
- 2016: Sofia Bekatorou (Sailing)
- 2020: Anna Korakaki (Shooting) & Lefteris Petrounias (Gymnastics)
Athletics has produced the most flag bearers for Greece, with 13 instances, followed by sailing (5), wrestling (2), and one each from fencing, judo, taekwondo, gymnastics, and shooting. Christos Papanikolaou and Pyrros Dimas have had the honor twice.
