Andy Murray has withdrawn from the tennis singles at the Paris Olympics but will still take part in the doubles, the two-time gold medallist said on Thursday.

The British former world number one, who will retire at the end of his fifth Games, has still not fully recovered from back surgery he had last month.

He believes the men’s doubles, where he is playing with Dan Evans, offers his best chance of another medal.

“I’ve taken the decision to withdraw from the singles to concentrate on the doubles with Dan,” said the 37-year-old.

“Our practice has been great and we’re playing well together. Really looking forward to getting started and representing GB one more time.”

Murray won gold in singles in London in 2012 and in Rio four years later, as well as silver in mixed doubles with Laura Robson in 2012.

His withdrawal means his final singles match was his brief second-round appearance at Queen’s Club against Jordan Thompson last month before he was forced to pull out because of a spinal cyst.

French government and Olympics officials are seeking a creative solution to allow Muslim French sprinter Sounkamba Sylla to wear her hijab at the Games’ opening ceremony in Paris on Friday.

But they did say on Wednesday that they were still complying with the country’s secularism laws.

Thousands of athletes, including some who wear a hijab, are arriving for the Paris Olympics, placing an international spotlight on tensions in France over national identity and perceived discrimination against Muslims.

Sylla, part of France’s 400 metres relay team, wrote on her Instagram account on Monday that her hijab would prevent her from appearing in Friday’s blockbuster opening ceremony along the Seine River.

The hijab is a head covering worn by many Muslim women.

“You are selected for the Olympic Games, organised in your country, but you can’t take part in the opening ceremony because you wear a scarf on your head,” Sylla posted on her account.

She did not immediately respond to a request for comments.

France, home to Europe’s largest Muslim minority, enforces laws to protect the principle of secularism.

Under this, state employees and school pupils are banned from wearing religious symbols and clothing in public institutions.

Rights groups say these rules effectively discriminate against Muslims.

Eager to avoid an embarrassing domestic flap with the entire world watching, the French government and Olympics officials said they were willing to find a solution for Sylla.

But it remains unclear what that could be.

“Our citizens expect us to follow these principles of secularism.

”But we also need to be inventive about solutions to make everyone feel good,” Amelia Oudea-Castera, minister for sports and the Olympic and Paralympic Games, said on Wednesday, adding that Sylla “understands our principles, our rules”.

Foreign athletes are not affected by the secularism rules.

David Lappartient, president of the French Olympic Committee, said the French Olympic team was “taking part in a public service mission and in this respect it is obliged to observe secularism”.

He acknowledged that the French approach “is sometimes incomprehensible in other countries”, but said there was still time to find solutions before the gala ceremony.

Numerous French sports authorities have banned women from wearing religious head coverings, such as in football, basketball, judo and boxing, according to Human Rights Watch.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) does not have rules against wearing religious head coverings.

Maria Hurtado, spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner for human rights, criticised the French government in September last year over its stance on the hijab for French athletes during the Olympic Games.

“No one should impose on a woman what she needs to wear, or not wear”.

Le Parisien newspaper has reported though that Sylla might participate in the Olympics opening ceremony wearing a cap.

World record holder Tobi Amusan has been selected as the country’s flagbearer for the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

This appointment marks a historic moment for Nigerian athletics, as Amusan becomes the first track and field athlete in two decades to receive this honour.

A tweet by Making of Champions on social media platform X on Tuesday said, “Tobi Amusan has been named as Nigeria’s flagbearer for the opening ceremony of #Paris2024 #Olympics – she becomes the first athlete from Athletics in 20yrs, since Mary Onyali at the Athens 2004 Games, to have such honours.”

Amusan, known for her outstanding performances in the 100m hurdles, will lead the Nigerian contingent during the parade of nations at the opening ceremony.

This recognition comes as a testament to her achievements and her status as one of Nigeria’s most prominent athletes on the global stage.

In addition to Amusan’s appointment, the Nigerian Olympic Committee has made another key selection for the country’s Olympic team.

The post further stated, “In another appointment, the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC) also announced Badminton player, Anuoluwapo Opeyori as the General Team captain for Nigeria in Paris.”

These appointments set the stage for Nigeria’s participation in the Paris 2024 Olympics.