PARIS: Equestrian Rider Omar Al Marzouqi and cyclist Safiya Al Sayegh carried the UAE’s flag during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on Friday, July 26, on the River Seine, marking a proud moment for the UAE. The UAE’s delegation passed by boat on the River Seine in the flag bearers’ eipsode, which began with the Greek delegation as Greece is the cradle of the Olympic Games.
Al Marzouqi won the silver medal in individual showjumping at the Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires in 2018. In Hangzhou, Al Marzooqi helped the UAE claim team bronze at the Asian Games, and won a silver medal in the individual competition.
The 21-year-old Al Marzouqi told the Emirates News Agency (WAM) that: ”This historic moment represents a great motive for the Emirati athletes to deliver the best results in the competitions in order to raise the flag again on the Olympic podiums.”
Omar Al Marzouqi, our national equestrian team’s show jumper, expressed his pride and honour at being chosen to carry the UAE flag at
the historic opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, noting that such moments remain etched in memory and represent a bright spot in the careers of all athletes. He wished all members of the sports delegation participating in the event success and added, “I am delighted to start the Paris Olympics by carrying the nation’s flag alongside athlete Safiya Al Sayegh, who has worked hard over the past period. I wish her and all athletes in the five sports in which the UAE delegation is participating great success and positive results that reflect the progress of the Olympic and sports movement in the United Arab Emirates.”
On the team’s preparations to participate in the scheduled competitions, Al Marzouqi said: ‘There were many gradual stages of preparation in Germany, Britain and Italy.’
The UAE’s national equestrian team is set to compete with other 20 teams in the show jumping competition which will start early August, followed by the individual competitions on 5 and 6 August with participation of 75 riders.
Source: Emirates News Agency