Gasol will be Spain’s flag bearer at Olympics

LONDON - The Spanish Olympic committee says basketball player Pau Gasol will replace Rafael Nadal as the country’s flag bearer for the opening ceremony of the London Games.Nadal will not defend his Olympic tennis title after pulling out with an undisclosed injury on Thursday.Spain says Gasol, who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers, has been chosen to replace Nadal because he represents ‘’the best values in sport and competition.’’Meanwhile, Feliciano Lopez has replaced the injured Nadal on Spain’s tennis team for the London Olympics. The No. 30-ranked Lopez was called in by Spain on Friday after Nadal was forced to pull out with an undisclosed injury.Nadal, a record seven-time French Open champion, lost in the second round at Wimbledon last month and hasn’t played since. Marc Lopez was selected to take Nadal’s place for doubles at the Olympics and will play with Marcel Granollers.Nadal also was to be Spain’s flag bearer for next Friday’s opening ceremony at the London Games, but it wasn’t immediately clear who would carry the flag in his place.The Olympic tennis tournament will be played at Wimbledon from July 28-Aug. 5.