By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Pau Gasol will be a candidate for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes’ Commission at Tokyo 2020, the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE) has announced.
A four-time Olympian who led Spain to silver medals in 2008 and 2012 and bronze in 2016, the 38-year-old Gasol has been hailed for his work not only on the court for his country and various NBA teams, but also off it.
The NBA awarded him the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award in 2012 for showing outstanding service and dedication to the community. Gasol, who launched his NBA career in 2001 with the Memphis Grizzlies, has also played for the Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs and Milwaukee Bucks.
He and his brother, fellow national team star and recently crowned NBA champion Marc Gasol of Toronto, are also responsible for the Gasol Foundation, which aims to reduce child obesity rates and promote healthy lifestyles among children and young people.
Spanish basketball star @paugasol to stand in #IOC Athletes Commission elections at #Tokyo2020 https://t.co/VzNvSq1fnB @COE_Presidente @COE_es @NBA @Bucks
— insidethegames (@insidethegames) June 19, 2019
Pau Gasol is the Goodwill Ambassador of the UNICEF Spanish Committee.
“Honored for this new opportunity to represent my fellow athletes in the IOC,” Gasol said.
“It would be another dream come true in Tokyo 2020.”
Gasol was the most valuable player of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2006 and has been a leading player in that competition on three occasions. An injury will prevent him from competing with Spain at the World Cup in China this summer.
The IOC Athletes’ Commission elections are due to take place at the Tokyo Olympics.
The elected candidates will serve eight-year terms on the Commission.
Source: FIBA