By Drew Weisholtz - NBC News
Sue Bird, star of women's basketball, and Latin baseball player Eddy Álvarez will be the standard bearers for the United States at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics on Friday, reports this Wednesday the TODAY program of NBC, sister network of Telemundo News .
Bird, 40, a Seattle Storm player, has won four gold medals with the women's team in the last four Olympics.
This is a 2021 photo of Eddy Alvarez of the Miami Marlins baseball team.
This image reflects the Miami Marlins active roster as of Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021 when this image was taken.
(Adam Glanzman / MLB Photos via AP) AP
Álvarez, 31, the son of Cuban immigrants, plays for the Miami Marlins and won a silver medal at the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014 while competing in speed skating.
Traditionally, a single person acts as a flag bearer at the Olympic Games, but this year the International Olympic Committee (IOC) encouraged each country to be represented by a man and a woman as a symbol of gender equality.
The flag bearers are chosen by their teammates.
"With 49% female participation, Tokyo 2020 will be the first Olympic Games with gender equality in history. For the first time, there will be at least one female athlete and one male athlete on each of the teams participating in the Games." , assures the IOC.
Seattle Storm's Sue Bird in action against the Las Vegas Aces during a WNBA basketball game Saturday, May 15, 2021, in Everett, Wash.
(AP Photo / Elaine Thompson) AP
Fencer Janice Lee Romary was the first woman to flag the United States in 1968 in Mexico City.
Athletes carry their country's flag in opening and closing ceremonies since the 1908 London Games. Athlete Ralph Rose was the first American flag bearer.
Swimmer Michael Phelps flagged the United States at the opening of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
He won six medals - including five gold - for a total of 28 in his career and became the most decorated athlete in the history of the Olympic Games.
Gymnast Simon Biles led the parade at the closing of the last Games.
[The Olympics return to Australia for the third time: Brisbane will host in 2032]
The US delegation will wear a uniform created by designer Ralph Lauren on Friday, consisting of a
blue
blazer
, a striped T-shirt, a scarf with the printed flag, tight jeans, a striped belt, a cotton mask and shoes to set in red, white and blue.
The flag bearers will be the only ones wearing
white
denim
jackets
.
