Tony Parker on Thursday revealed he had a "pain in his heart" to see his compatriots competing at the Olympics and not to be alongside them.

The France national team point guard sprung a major surprise on Thursday by deciding to join the basketball team at Levallois and play for Les Bleus in the forthcoming EuroBasket 2009 qualifying games against Belgium, Ukraine and Turkey.

Parker had hoped to be at the Olympics but France finished a disappointing eight at EuroBasket 2007 and that wasn't good enough to earn a place at the qualifying tournament in Athens.

"I will rejoin the French national team today," Parker said on his personal website.

"I always want to play for the national team but in between the NBA seasons and the international competitions, I really needed a break.

"I need to rest, I couldn't continue at that rhythm. The Spurs believed I had played too many games and for that reason, they asked me to rest this summer. But deep inside me, I told myself that there was hope that I would play. I had not made a definite decision regarding EuroBasket 2009 qualification."

France were desperate for Parker to play with another point guard, Joseph Gomis, ruled out with an Achilles injury.

Sacha Giffa was lost to a leg injury earlier this week.

"I really wanted to be there at the Olympics and to represent my country," Parker said.

"That gave me a pain in my heart to see all the French athletes wear the French colors and not to be alongside them.

"The only thing I can do is to rejoin the national team to play the qualifiers in September.

"I love the French team. I could not stay in the United States."

France will also have Los Angeles Lakers center Ronny Turiaf but will be without national team captain Boris Diaw of the Phoenix Suns.

"I spoke to Boris Diaw," Parker said. "He would have liked to have accompanied me but he unfortunately cannot make it because some insurance problems.

"I am here because it is my duty to be alongside my compatriots. We have beautiful challenges ahead and it's together that we will do it."