Tribune News Network
Doha
The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) on Sunday announced that a total of 14 male and female athletes will represent Qatar at the Paris 2024 Olympics to be held from July 26 to August 11.
QOC, at a press conference, highlighted the Qatari participation in the presence of Director of QOC Sports Affairs Department Mohammed Issa Al Fadala, and Chef De Mission of Qatar delegation for the Games, Mohammed Saeed Al Misnad, and Abdulhadi Al Sahli, Press Attaché for Qatar delegation.
During the briefing, the latest developments regarding the Qatari delegation, competition venues, and the names of the qualified athletes were reviewed.
Al Fadala affirmed Team Qatar’s readiness to participate at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and athletes’ preparedness to represent Qatar at the most important and largest sporting event in the world.
Al Fadala said: “We congratulate His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the QOC, and His Excellency Jassim Rashid Al Buenain, Secretary-General of the QOC, and the directors of departments at the QOC on the qualification of the athletes for Paris 2024 Olympics.”
He added: “I thank the presidents of the national federations qualified for the Paris Olympics for the great effort they have made over the past four years in preparing and equipping the athletes in the best possible way for the games, and developing preparation plans with the officials in the Board of Directors at their respective federations to achieve their aspirations, goals, and the distinguished results they are looking for.”
He continued: “As an Olympic Committee, we hope to be at the highest level of ambition, and we have worked in all ways to prepare and support the sports federations before or after qualifying for Paris 2024 Olympics. The participation of each athlete at these Games is an honour for all of us, and we wish all the best to our players and that they remain injury free as they are aware of the responsibility on their shoulders to present the best levels and honour the name of Qatar.”
The Director of Sports Affairs Department at QOC pointed out that the qualification system for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games was more difficult than the qualification system for previous editions.
Al Fadala explained: “The qualification system for athletes to most of the competitions scheduled for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games has changed from the system that was previously in place, where most international federations relied on two systems to qualify athletes for the Olympics: the direct qualification through ranking or qualification through points. The latter system is considered more challenging.”
Many Team Qatar athletes have qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics through the points system. At the next Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, the qualification criteria for participation in its competitions will be more difficult.
Regarding the aspirations of Qatari athletes at the Paris Olympics, he said: “The high ranking of some athletes in Team Qatar is a good indicator that they have the ability to go far in the competitions. I wish all the federations whose athletes will represent Team Qatar all the best.”
Chef De Mission Mohammed Saeed Al Misnad confirmed that 14 athletes will represent Qatar from five national federations in athletics, swimming, shooting, beach volleyball, and weightlifting.
Al Misnad explained that the list of participants includes Mutaz Essa Barshim, Abderrahman Samba, Aboubaker Abdulla, Bassem Hameeda, Ismail Dawoud, Ammar Ismail, Saif Mohamed, and Shahad Mohamed in athletics, Saeed Abu Sharb and Rashid Saleh Al Athba in shooting, Fares Ibrahim in weightlifting, Cherif Younesse & Ahmed Tijan in beach volleyball, and Abdulaziz Al Obaidli in swimming.
Al Misnad revealed that Mutaz Barshim and Shahad Mohamed will be carrying the Qatar flag at the Games’ opening ceremony.
The Qatari athletes will start arriving in Paris from July 19.
He said: “Team Qatar participation starts from the first day of the competitions (July 27) and shall end on August 10, which will witness the final of the high jump, weightlifting, and men’s beach volleyball. The competitions will span over 16 days during the event.
Team Qatar’s Chef De Mission also informed that the Qatar Olympic Committee will host a reception ceremony on August 1 in the French capital on the sidelines of the 2024 Olympics. He said that the reception ceremony will be presided over by His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, in addition to His Excellency Jassim bin Rashid Al Buainain, Secretary-General of the Qatar Olympic Committee, along with the presidents of participating sports federations and the athletes. The aim of the ceremony is to strengthen ties with the Olympic family and national Olympic committees, and to showcase Qatar’s role as a leading global sports capital.
Al Misnad added in his remarks: The qualified federations for the Paris 2024 Olympics have commenced their preparations for the competitions with most athletes currently stationed in Europe due to the proximity to the French capital, Paris. It should be noted that preparations actually began shortly after Tokyo 2020, especially for our Olympic champions who secured medals in that edition. “We wish them the best of luck in achieving optimal results and winning medals in the upcoming competitions.”
Abdulhadi Al Sahli, Team Qatar’s Press Attaché emphasized the commitment to provide comprehensive and detailed coverage of Qatar’s delegation participation at the Paris 2024 Olympics to the Qatari sports community. He also expressed reliance on various Qatari media outlets, as well as beIN Sports and Al Kass channels, that will be present in Paris to cover the games.
Al Sahli continued: “We hope to replicate the success of the previous Tokyo 2020 Games, where Qatar achieved two gold medals through Mutaz Barshim in high jump and Fares Ibrahim in weightlifting (achieving Qatar’s first-ever gold medals in Olympic history). We aspire for our Olympic champions to achieve the same success in Paris.”
