Pau Gasol to replace Nadal as country's flag bearer

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Pau Gasol to replace Nadal as country's flag bearer

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Spanish basketball player Pau Gasol has been chosen to replace Nadal as the country's flag bear.

20 July,2012 08:06 pm

He will bear the flag at the opening ceremony for the London Games, the countrys Olympic federation said on Friday.Nadal, the gold medal holder in the mens singles from Beijing, was forced to pull out of the Games on Thursday after failing to recover from a knee problem.Los Angeles Lakers centre Gasol is one of the countrys most recognised sportsmen and helped Spain win silver in Beijing four years ago, when they lost in the final to the United States.Sailing duo Iker Martinez and Xabi Fernandez had been in the running as well but they ruled themselves out so not to upset preparations for the July 27-Aug. 12 Games.