14 athletes set to represent UAE at Paris Olympics 2024

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The National Olympic Committee has announced the UAE’s line-up for the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

The Paris Games will be a global spectacle, featuring over 10,500 athletes from 200 countries competing across 32 sports disciplines across 329 events at 35 venues.

The UAE delegation comprises 14 athletes accompanied by 24 administrative, technical, and medical staff.

The athletes will compete in five sports including equestrian, judo, cycling, swimming, and athletics. The national equestrian team participating in the show jumping competition comprises Abdullah Humaid Al Muhairi, Abdullah Al Marri, Omar Al Marzouqi, Salem Al Suwaidi, and Ali Al Karbi, with four of them to be selected for final participation by the technical staff in the coming days.

The national judo team includes five male and one female athlete: Narmand Bayan (under 66 kg), Talal Shvili (under 81 kg), Aram Gregorian (under 90 kg), Dhafer Aram (under 100 kg), Omar Marouf (over 100 kg), and female athlete Bashirat Kharoudi (under 52 kg in women’s lightweight).

Cyclist Safia Al Sayegh will compete in the road race at the Paris Games, being the first Emirati female cyclist to qualify for the Olympics.

Swimmer Yousef Rashid Al Matroushi will compete in the 100m freestyle and swimmer Maha Abdullah Al Shehi will compete in the 200m freestyle event. Runner Maryam Mohammed Al Farsi will compete in the 100m race.

Omar Al Marzouqi has the honour of carrying the UAE flag at the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 26.

These details were announced during a press conference organized by the National Olympic Committee at the Shindagha Museum in Dubai on Friday, attended by representatives of the sports federations participating in the Paris Games.

Faris Mohammed Al Mutawaa, Secretary General of the NOC, opened the conference with a speech in which he thanked and appreciated Sheikh Ahmed Bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and President of the National Olympic Committee, for his support and follow-up of the UAE team participating in the Paris Olympic Games, and his keen direction to provide all means and facilities to help athletes perform their role in the best possible way.

Mutawaa continued, “I would like to congratulate the sports federations participating in the Paris Olympics who have worked diligently over the past four years to reach this historic moment awaited by athletes from all over the world to compete among themselves and confirm their merit and eligibility to be present in this prominent event. Congratulations to everyone for this distinction and leadership.”

Mutawaa expressed his confidence in the UAE delegation participating in the Olympic Games and added, “I reiterate my confidence in the participating athletes, on whom we rely heavily and trust their abilities and form to repeat the Olympic achievements in 2004 and 2016 and move forward in solidifying the country’s position and presence in the Olympic forums, especially since the current edition of the Olympic Games will witness many motivating factors happening for the first time in the history of the Games, such as equal participation rates between males and females, organizing the opening ceremony outside sports stadiums, and other aspects that give the Paris Olympic Games a special historical character for all participants. I also confirm that the entire UAE delegation from now until the end of the event will be in service and support of the athletes at all times.”

During the press conference, the Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee revealed the inauguration of the UAE House for the first time alongside the UAE’s participation in the Olympic Games and said, “I am pleased and honoured to announce to all attendees the inauguration of the UAE House in Paris alongside the UAE’s participation in the Olympic Games, which includes authentic national heritage and historical and cultural legacies we are proud to belong to. The UAE House will offer a unique experience for all visitors to discover the inspiring journey of the Union, and experience Emirati hospitality.”

The UAE House will open its doors from July 27 to August 10, from 10am to 8pm (Paris time) and entrance is free. There will be a wide range of activities and events. The UAE National Olympic Committee also unveiled the uniforms to be worn by the Emirati Olympians.

UAE will start their campaign on July 28, with swimmer Shehi competing in the 200m freestyle at Paris La Defense Arena and Kharoudi in the women’s under-52 kg judo event at Champ de Mars Arena.

On July 30, Matroushi will compete in the 100m freestyle, and Shvili in the 81 kg judo event. Gregorian will compete in the under-90 kg judo event on July 31.

The national equestrian team begins the team show jumping competition on August 1 at the Palace of Versailles, with athlete Dhafer Aram in the under-100 kg judo event. On August 2, Omar Marouf will compete in the over-100 kg judo event, and Maryam Al Farsi in the 100m race at Stade de France. Cyclist Safia Al Sayegh will compete in the road race on August 4 at Alexander III Bridge.