Arab athletes ready to make their mark at Paris 2024 Olympics

Against the backdrop of war in Gaza, many are driven by a cause more powerful than sporting ambitions

Algeria's 800m runner Djamel Sedjati heads to Paris in red-hot form. AFP

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Ahead of Friday’s opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics, over 450 Arab athletes are ready, not just to fly the flag for their countries at these Games, but to represent the region as a whole during a time of unimaginable pain and horror.

Under the shadow of the raging war in Gaza, many Arab athletes, including the eight Palestinians taking part in these Olympics, are driven by a cause that goes beyond the sporting arena.

“For me it’s not about the medals, it’s about reaching the most people about the Palestinian cause – I don’t care about medals,” Palestinian swimmer Yazan Al Bawwab told The National on Thursday, upon his national delegation’s arrival in Paris. "I mean, if a medal gets me more awareness, that’s what I care about. But for me personally, sport is a tool for peace."

Garnering attention will not be too difficult of a task for Arab athletes in the French capital, with many primed for historical success at the Olympics.

In gymnastics, Jordan’s first-ever Olympic gymnast Ahmad Abu Al Soud touches down in Paris ranked No 1 in the world in pommel horse and is a strong contender for gold on his signature apparatus. Equally impressive on uneven bars is France-born Algerian teenager Kaylia Nemour, who could become the first African or Arab gymnast to medal at the Olympics. They both have skills named after them in the FIG Code of Points.

Algerian Djamel Sedjati is threatening the 800m world record and is in red-hot form entering the Olympics, while Qatar’s Mutaz Barshim is hoping to defend his high jump gold medal on his fourth and final appearance at the Games.

Egypt’s handball team are bidding for a maiden podium finish after falling just short and placing fourth in Tokyo 2020, but must first navigate a brutal group that includes hosts and defending champions France and reigning world champions Denmark.

Judokas and equestrians provide the UAE’s strongest chances for medals, while Saudi Arabia’s Dunya Abutaleb could very well become the Kingdom’s first ever female Olympic medallist as a serious contender in the -49kg event in taekwondo.

Nearly a third of the Arab athletes competing in Paris are women, many of whom have a legitimate shot at making the podium.

Besides Nemour and Abutaleb, Egyptian weightlifter Sara Samir, Jordanian taekwondo fighter Julyana Al Sadeq, and Moroccan marathon runner Fatima Ezzahra Gardadi are among the region’s top prospects.

These Olympics provide an opportunity for the Arab audience to get reacquainted with familiar faces and get to know new rising stars.

There are veterans such as Saudi Arabian showjumper Ramzy Al Duhami, who at 52 is competing in his sixth Olympics; and teen debutantes like 14-year-old Egyptian Sara Hossny, who will showcase her talents in both individual and team foil fencing at these Games.

There are women like Lebanese shooter Ray Bassil and Egyptian table tennis trail blazer Dina Meshref, who will be contesting their fourth Olympics, and young first-timers eager to pick up the baton such as 16-year-old table tennis prodigy Hana Goda.

With the Tokyo 2020 Olympics – postponed to 2021 – held during pandemic times with no fans and heavy restrictions, athletes are excited to be back competing in a vibrant atmosphere.

“I remember someone yelled my name during the 800 race or something, and there was echo. That’s how bad it was,” said Egyptian swimmer Marwan Elkamash.

“It felt like I was swimming in some random local meet in Alexandria. It didn’t feel the same. Japan was super nice but it was not it for me. It was weird.”

The Alexandrian is thrilled to get another chance at swimming in front of a packed house and is hoping to become the first Egyptian swimmer in history to make an Olympic final when he races in the 800m and 1,500m freestyle events.

Another special aspect of these Olympics is the fact that there will be many Arabs competing in sports that haven’t historically been associated with this region.

Moroccan Aya Asaqas will make her Olympic debut in skateboarding, while her compatriots B-Girl Fatima Zahra El Mamouny will compete in breaking, Ramzi Boukhiam is back for a second Olympics in surfing, and Ines Laklalech has qualified in women’s golf.

Malak Hamza is Egypt’s sole representative in trampoline gymnastics.

Noor Slaoui is the first Arab equestrian to qualify for the Olympics in eventing and she tries to explain why Moroccans are heavily featured in unique sports at these Olympics.

“Moroccans are very curious. We’re always trying new things. If you go around in Morocco in sports centres and stuff like that, they’re always going to want to try something new. I think we are, in a way, passionate people,” explained the Casablanca native.

“So, if we like something, we’ll just throw our heart at it. I think maybe that’s why we can sometimes be found in new or different sports. But I think in the Arab world in general, we’re all a bit like that. So I think for the future, it’s just amazing and super exciting, because I think we’re going to see more and more of us in those sports, so I’m looking forward to it.”

Another athlete opening doors for her countrywomen is Safiya Al Sayegh, who is the first Emirati female cyclist to qualify for the Olympics.

Al Sayegh competes while wearing the hijab, which bears extra significance in these Paris Games, where French Muslim athletes are prohibited from wearing headscarves during the Olympics. French authorities say they are bound by the country’s secular principles but organisations like Amnesty International say the ban exposes “discriminatory double standards ahead of the Olympic and Paralympic Games”.

For Al Sayegh, her participation is an opportunity to show the world that a headscarf should never be a reason to stop a woman from competing in a sport.

“Hopefully me and my sisters in religion are able to add a statement in Paris at the Olympics, to show that it’s not restricting us in any way and that we are able to compete or even compete better than many others, even with our dressing and with whatever we take from our religion,” the Emirati cyclist said on The National’s podcast Abtal.

“So I definitely think it’s a big statement to the world and to the French people and hopefully we can represent our hijab and our religion in the best way.”

There is a lot to look forward to at these Olympic Games, and many layers to the Arab world’s participation.

As they famously say: Let the Games begin!