China critic to carry flag for France at Olympics

PARIS (AP) -Two-time gold medal canoeist Tony Estanguet, an outspoken critic of the Chinese government, will carry the French flag at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Games.

The head of France's Olympic committee, Henri Serandour, said Tuesday that Estanguet was chosen to lead the delegation of some 310 French athletes into Beijing's National Stadium on Aug. 8.

At a news conference earlier this month, Estanguet said "the situation in China is certainly intolerable'' and that it was "unbearable for us sports people.'' He was among a group of French athletes who wanted to wear a badge saying "For a Better World'' at the Olympics.

Serandour initially rejected that plan, but later said he would support an international badge that could be worn by athletes from around the world. The athletes commission of the International Olympic Committee rejected the concept of an international badge last week.

France has worked to improve strained relations with China in past weeks. There have been anti-French demonstrations in front of outlets of the French retail giant Carrefour in China. Anti-France sentiment has swept China since raucous protests occurred during the Olympic torch relay in Paris.

Estanguet, who won gold medals in Sydney in 2000 and Athens in 2004, hopes to become the first French athlete to win individual gold medals at three straight Olympics.