Tony Parker Cleared to Play in London 2012 Olympics
Star San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker has just been given the go ahead to compete in the London Olympics later this month.
Parker, who will play with team France when the 2012 Olympics kick off on July 27th, was previously sidelined from participating in sports after he suffered a left eye injury during a nightclub brawl between Chris Brown and members of hip hop star Drake’s entourage.
Parker has since sued the owners of the nightclub for $20 million for allowing the incident to escalate.
Following a brief recovery period after the eye injury, Parker sought the opinions of two expert ophthalmologists who agreed with the French doctor who operated on Parker and two Swiss experts that he had healed enough to play.
“I just arrived in Paris with good news. I’m going to the Olympics!!! I’m really happy I got the green light from Spurs!! Thank you Pop!! Now, towards London with beautiful glasses!!!.”
This past season, Parker averaged team highs of 18.3 points and career high 7.7 assists in 60 games for the Spurs. He also led the team with averages of 20.1 points and 6.8 assists in the playoffs, which ended with a loss to Oklahoma City in the Western Conference finals.
USA Today reports that Parker is joining the French squad in Orleans and he could play in an exhibition game against England on Saturday.
France is set to kick off Olympic play on July 29 against the United States.
“It is great news and a relief for the whole France team,” coach Vincent Collet said. “I spoke with Tony on the phone and he sounded very happy — and also relieved — about this development. It was a difficult and alarming situation for everyone.”
In addition to Tony Parker, the French have a solid roster including NBA stars such as Joakim Noah, Nicolas Batum and Parker’s Spurs teammate Boris Diaw.
