Judo and Swimming Continue UAE Delegation’s Participation in Paris 2024 Olympics
· Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi welcomes delegations to the UAE Olympic House
· Ahmed Belhoul Al Falasi: Participation in Paris is the first step towards achieving the goals of National Sports Strategy 2031
· Yousif Mirza: Safiya Al Sayegh's preparations have intensified
Khorloodoi Bishrelt, a member of the UAE national judo team, exited the competitions at the Olympic Games hosted in Paris. Competing alongside 10,500 athletes from 200 national Olympic committees across 32 sports, with 329 events held in 35 sports facilities, she was eliminated in the round of 16 after losing to German athlete Mascha Ballhaus, the bronze medallist at the 2024 Abu Dhabi World Championship. She had previously won her first match in the round of 32 against China's Zhu Ba Laibon.
Narmand Bayan, also from the UAE national judo team, concluded his Olympic participation by losing in the round of 32 to South Korea’s veteran player An Paul in the under 66 kg category. Meanwhile, UAE swimmer Maha Al Shehhi finished her Olympic journey in 28th place in the 200-metre freestyle event with a time of 2:17.17 minutes.
Maha Al Shehhi expressed happiness at her debut in the Olympic Games through the 200-metre freestyle competition, competing against a selection of world and Olympic record holders. She confirmed that this experience would only increase her determination to intensify efforts and improve her times in all future competitions, with the aim of returning to this major event which marks a turning point in the career of any athlete.
She noted that she managed to break her previous personal record of 2:17.37 by 0.20 seconds despite the strong competition and global media spotlight on the event. The participation and presence at this event itself remain among the greatest achievements in her sporting career.
Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Vice President of the UAE National Olympic Committee and President of the UAE Delegation to the Paris Olympic Games, received Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, at the opening ceremony of the UAE Olympic House in Paris. The event was attended by Her Excellency Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of State, HE Faris Al Mutawa, Secretary-General of the National Olympic Committee, HE Ghanem Mubarak Al Hajri, Director General of the General Authority of Sports, and several public and sports figures.
Sheikh Rashid also welcomed Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, and Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed Al Zubair, President of the Oman Olympic Committee, along with their accompanying delegations. The visiting delegations were introduced to a variety of unique experiences through eight interactive spaces, including the opportunity to explore a hand-painted mural consisting of 18 frames inspired by the traditional Emirati house, which is a distinctive part of the UAE's urban heritage.
HE Dr. Ahmed Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports, Vice President of the UAE National Olympic Committee, and Chairman of the Executive Office, stated that the athletes representing the UAE at the Paris Olympic Games are true ambassadors for their country. “They exemplify sportsmanship at the highest levels and present an honourable image of Emirati youth, embodying the Olympic spirit of peace and coexistence,” he commented.
Dr. Al Falasi pointed out that the delegation carries the ambition and passion to achieve the Olympic dream of winning the UAE’s third Olympic medal, raising the UAE flag high at this global event. He emphasized that every Emirati Olympic athlete is keen to deliver outstanding performances and achieve the best results, reflecting the progress of the national sports sector and solidifying its presence on the global sports map.
He noted that this participation represents the first step towards implementing the objectives of the National Sports Strategy 2031, which aims to qualify more than 30 athletes for the Olympic Games by focusing on talent development and achieving success in elite professional sports. The strategy also includes providing necessary support for elite athletes and prioritised sports federations, alongside focusing on school sports and highlighting their outputs to build a solid base of athletes capable of competing and achieving victories in global competitions.
Yousif Mirza, coach of the UAE national cycling team, confirmed that Safiya Al Sayegh’s preparations have been carried out intensively and with high efficiency. The player showed great commitment during the training camp that preceded the Olympic Games by 45 days, reaching advanced technical levels and interacting with many players from different countries.
Mirza added, “The preparation plan for Safiya Al Sayegh included multiple phases, both in official participation and training camps. Her training sessions have recently doubled, especially after her official qualification for the Paris Olympic Games by securing the 45th position in the world ranking. This achievement ensures she is at her best for the women's road race, which includes 91 participants from the strongest teams, including the 41-year-old Dutch gold medallist in the individual time trial and silver medallist in the road race at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Van Vleuten, and other distinguished players.”
He pointed out that the road race requires a high level of physical and mental fitness due to the various stages it passes through, including different elevations. He said, “The women’s road race covers a distance of 158 km, passing through various areas in the suburbs of Paris, with elevations reaching up to 1800 metres. We have full confidence in Safiya Al Sayegh’s performance, who has become the first female cyclist to qualify for the Olympic Games. This accomplishment delights us all and motivates the technical and administrative teams to redouble their efforts to make the most of this significant first-time participation. We wish her success in this important mission for the nation. Since we arrived in Paris on July 22, we have been training on the race course, attending all technical meetings, and ensuring that we leave no stone unturned in moving forward with our participation and presenting the desired image.”
The UAE delegation will continue its participation in the Paris Olympic Games next Tuesday with Yousif Al Matroushi competing in the 100-metre freestyle, in addition to Talal Shafili from the UAE national judo team in the under 81 kg category, where he will face Puerto Rican champion Gandia Adrian in the preliminary round.
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