Gasol will be Spain's flag bearer at Olympics

LONDON (AP) 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."

Updated July 20, 2012