Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman has been honored with the representation of its youthful sprinter, Ali al Balushi, and the female athlete, Mazoon al Alawi, as the flag bearers during the inaugural ceremony of the 33rd edition of the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
This prestigious event will take place on Friday at the Seine River, the heart of Paris, the capital city of France.
The Omani duo will have the privilege of sharing this honor during the Olympic March, where each delegation is required to represent both genders as flag bearers.
This edition of the Olympic Games is set to be a unique one, as the opening ceremony will be hosted outside the main stadium.
The event is set to welcome over 7,000 athletes from various nations, participating in sailing on 94 boats and ferries over a six-kilometer stretch from the Austerlitz Bridge to the Iena Bridge on the Seine river. It is anticipated that more than 500,000 spectators will have the opportunity to witness the event live from designated viewing areas and nearby balconies and apartments in Paris.
The official inauguration will be graced by numerous distinguished guests, including French President Emmanuel Macron, alongside several presidents and representatives from various countries, the President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, and various sports personalities.
The ceremony, scheduled to commence at 8:30 PM local time in Oman (6:30 PM local time in France), will also feature the presence of Omani officials, including Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed al Zubair, Chairman of the Oman Olympic Committee (OOC), and HE Basil bin Ahmed Al Rawas, Undersecretary for Sports and Youth at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, Oman, Oman’s Ambassador to France Ahmed bin Mohammed al Oraimi, and other members of the OOC.
The Omani flag bearers will be accompanied by members of the sports delegation, national team representatives, and technical and administrative staff. The ceremony will include the traditional parade of athletes, the lighting of the Olympic flame, and a variety of cultural performances reflecting French heritage, complemented by fireworks, light shows, and musical performances.
The Omani sports delegation arrived at the Olympic Village late on Thursday. The athletics and swimming teams have joined the shooting team, which had already arrived earlier in the week. The administrative delegation has completed all necessary entry procedures. Chef De Mission of the Oman delegation, Ali bin Salim al Busaidi, welcomed the national team representatives at Paris Airport and the Olympic Village.
Al Khatri Commences Preparations at Châteauroux Shooting Center
Oman's shooter, Said Ali al Khatri, has commenced his daily intensive preparations since his arrival in Paris earlier this week. Under the mentorship of Italian coach Luca Marini, the national shooting team has chosen to arrive early to train, in anticipation of Al Khatri's historic inaugural participation in the Olympics.
Al Khatri has dedicated his time to practicing with his rifle at the Châteauroux Shooting Center, situated approximately 200 kilometers south of Paris. This facility stands as the largest of its kind in Europe, offering him the opportunity to gain valuable additional experience through early preparation. This year is the inaugural year for Olympic shooters to train at this venue for more than ten days prior to the commencement of the competitions.
Al Khatri is set to make his Olympic debut, marking the beginning of Oman's representation in the Games. He will compete in the preliminary rounds of the Men’s Trap Shooting event on Monday and Tuesday at the same venue. Participants will be divided into groups and compete in multiple rounds over two days, with the top performers advancing to the finals, where they will compete for Olympic medals.
Concurrently, the athletics and swimming teams have initiated their training programs on Saturday, as road closures for the opening ceremony have prevented them from training on Friday.
Swimmer Issa al Adawi will conduct his first official training session at the Paris Aquatics Center, under the guidance of Tunisian coach Amer bin Ruqia. Sprinter Ali Anwar al Balushi and runner Mazoon Khalfan al Alawi will begin their official training at the de France Stadium under the supervision of national coach Fahd Khalfan al Mishaykhi.
Issa Al Adawi is scheduled to compete in the 100-meter freestyle event on Tuesday, while Mazoon Al Alawi will participate in the 100 m event on August 2, followed by Ali Al Balushi’s debut in the same category on August 3 at the same venue.
The Omani athletes are determined to demonstrate their capabilities and strive to achieve personal and national records, despite the anticipated stiff competition.
