The UAE athletes will make their Paralympic Games debut on Friday at the Paris 2024 Games, which officially opened on Wednesday.

They will compete in three sports: cycling, shooting, and athletics. Ahmed Al Badwawi will compete in the Men’s C5 1000m Individual Pursuit Qualifying, while Aisha Al Muhairi and Aisah Al Shamsi will compete in the Mixed 10m Air Rifle Standing SH2, with Noura Al Ketbi and Zekra Al Kaabi to partake in the Athletics Women’s Club Throw - F32.

Meanwhile, Ahmed Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sport, stated that the resolve of the People of Determination to raise the UAE flag at major international events is a source of pride and a model for all athletes to follow.

This came during his visit on Thursday to the residence of the UAE delegation participating in the Paralympics Games Paris 2024, which includes Ghanim Mubarak Al Hajeri, Director-General of the UAE General Authority of Sports, and Sheikh Suhail Bin Butti Al Maktoum, Executive Director of the Sports Development Sector at the authority.

He was welcomed at the Olympic Village by Mohammed Fadel Al Hameli, Chairman of the UAE Paralympics Committee who is leading the UAE delegation to Paris 2024; Tariq Sultan Bin Khadem, Vice-Chairman of the National Paralympic Committee; Gareth Wynn, Chief Communications Officer at Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA), and members of the committee’s board of directors and delegation.

The minister praised the readiness of the national teams of People of Determination to ascend the podiums and enhance the achievements accomplished in recent years, including the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and the Asian Para Games held in Hangzhou, China, in 2023.

He said, “The resolve of the People of Determination to raise the UAE flag high at the world’s largest events has always been our source of pride. We are confident that their participation in the Paris Paralympic Games will mark a new chapter of excellence in the UAE’s sports journey.”

He added, “We will continue to support and nurture our People of Determination champions so that their success is distinguished and sustainable on the international stage, setting an example for elevating UAE sports to new levels.”

Mohammed Fadel Al Hameli expressed his happiness with the minister’s visit, seeing it as a great motivation for the athletes before the start of the competitions, especially as they all have the determination to do their utmost and maintain the track record of achievements over the past years.

The minister toured the Olympic Village in Paris, ensuring all comfort measures for the UAE delegation are in place. He also visited the International Paralympic Committee’s Athletes’ Council voting booth, which is being held throughout the Games, with UAE shooter Saif Al Nuaimi nominated for membership.

Meanwhile, Track cyclist Caroline Groot of the Netherlands won the first gold medal of the Paralympic Games on Thursday.

Groot won the final of the C4 and C5 classifications in the 500-meter time trial in women’s track cycling. It was the first medal event of the Games that opened with a spectacular ceremony on Wednesday.

Groot went last after watching C4 world record holder Kadeena Cox crash on her attempt. The British cyclist was denied the opportunity of restarting because a mechanical error was not to blame for her fall.

Groot won in 35.390 seconds, a world record in C5. French cyclist Marie Patouillet (C5) took the silver, and Canada’s Kate O’Brien (C4) took bronze.

C1 to C5 are para cycling classifications for athletes with physical impairments that affect their legs, arms and/or trunk causing issues with functionality who can use a standard bicycle.

C4 is for cyclists with lower limb impairments or issues with lower limb functionality caused by the likes of cerebral palsy, amputations and other lower limb impairments, while C5 is for cyclists with less severe impairments.

Frenchman Ugo Didier and Brazilian Gabrielzinho won gold medals in impressive fashion as the first titles were claimed in swimming at the Paris Paralympics on Thursday.

Agencies