Qatar’s Beach Volleyball Team Heads to Paris Olympics

Qatar’s national beach volleyball team, led by bronze medalists Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan from Tokyo 2020, is set to compete in the Paris 2024 Olympics. The team departed Doha on Saturday, aiming to secure another medal in the French capital.

Younousse and Tijan, currently ranked 15th in the FIVA classification, qualified for the Olympics last month after accumulating 5800 points in 10 competitions. This marks their third consecutive Olympic appearance, highlighting their consistency and skill on the international stage.

Qatar’s Packed Schedule for the 2024-2025 Season

Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, president of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), praised the team’s dedication and hard work. “Our national beach volleyball team’s qualification for Paris 2024 is the result of perseverance from everyone involved,” he wrote on platform X.

As the Olympics approach, Qatar will be represented in five sports: athletics, volleyball, shooting, weightlifting, and swimming. High jumper Mutaz Barshim, a seasoned Olympian, will lead the team in his fourth Olympic appearance.

Star Athletes and Teams

Barshim, along with Shahad Mohamed, the only female Qatari athlete, will carry the Qatar flag at the opening ceremony. Barshim has previously won Olympic gold and two silver medals in 2016 and 2012, making him a beacon of inspiration for the team.

Other notable athletes include track and field stars Abderrahman Samba, Abubaker Haydar, Bassem Humeida, Ismail Dawood, and Ammar Ismail. Saif Mohammed and Shahad Mohamed will also compete, while Saeed Abu Sharab and Rashid Saleh Al Adhuba will represent Qatar in shooting.

Weightlifter Fares Ibrahim returns to the Olympics after competing in 2016 and 2020. Ibrahim made history by winning Qatar’s first Olympic gold medal in weightlifting in 2020, setting an Olympic record with a 225kg clean and jerk.

Swimmer Abdulaziz Al Obaidly will represent Qatar in the 200M breaststroke.

A Global Spectacle

This summer, 10,500 athletes from over 200 National Olympic Committees will compete in 329 events across 35 venues. The event will see extensive media coverage, with 20,000 media representatives and 45,000 volunteers. Additionally, there will be 754 events and 350,000 hours of television coverage, making it one of the most-watched sporting events globally.