TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK

DOHA QATARI female shooter Bahiya al Hamad will carry the country’s flag at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in London on July 27, the Qatar Olympic Committee announced on Wednesday via Twitter.

The 19-year-old — who is one of four female athletes to be selected for the Games in what is a first for the Gulf state — said she was overjoyed at having the honour conferred on her.

“I am shaking with joy to be carrying the national flag of my country, Qatar, at the opening ceremony,” said Hamad, who will compete in the 10 metres pistol event.

“It is an historic moment for sport,” added Hamad, who won three titles at the 2011 Arab Games and a silver medal at the Arab Championships in March.

Hamad will be joined at the Games by female compatriots: swimmer Nada Mohammed Wafa Arakji, sprinter Noor al Malki, and table tennis player Aya Majdi.

The groundbreaking decision to field female athletes for the first time in their history at the Games came after a series of talks with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Earlier, Nada Zeidan, Qatar’s leading female sports personality, ran with the London Olympic Flame near York in England. Nada participated in the Torch Relay for the first time during the 2006 Doha Asian Games.