Yi Jianlian to carry flag for Team China

Chinese basketball player Yi Jianlian has been chosen to carry the flag of China at the opening ceremony of the London Olympic Games on Friday.

"I am honored and grateful that I will have the opportunity (to carry the flag," Yi told Xinhua at a flag-raising ceremony in the Athletes Village Wednesday morning.

Yi, 24, started his career as a professional player in south China's Guangdong Province. He joined NBA in 2007 and played for the Washington Wizards before he came back to China amid the NBA lock-out.