Follow the latest news on the 2024 Paris Olympics
Arab athletes continue their hunt for medals on Sunday with Algerian Kaylia Nemour leading the way for podium contenders.
Nemour’s uneven bars routine is one of the most highly-anticipated in artistic gymnastics at these Games and the 17-year-old France-born Algerian will commence her campaign in subdivision two in the qualification round, which begins at 11:30 UAE time on Sunday at Bercy Arena.
Also taking part is 19-year-old Egyptian Jana Mahmoud, who will compete in subdivision 5.
Five Mena athletes to watch on Sunday
UAE judokas begin their Paris 2024 journeys at Champ-de-Mars Arena with Asian Games silver medallist Bishrelt Khorloodoi opening against Zhu Yeqing of China in the women’s -52kg category (third on mat 2 from a midday start), and Narmandakh Bayanmunkh facing An Baul of South Korea in -66kg action (eighth on mat 1 from a midday start).
Three Arab teenage swimmers will feature in the women’s 200m freestyle heats at La Defense Arena. UAE’s Maha Abdullah Al Shehi, 18, and Saudi Arabia’s Mashael Alayed, 17, will compete in Heat 1, while 19-year-old Egyptian Lojine Abdalla is scheduled for Heat 2.
Alayed will make history as the first female swimmer to represent Saudi Arabia in the pool at an Olympic Games.
Egypt’s Mayar Sherif will kick off her tennis singles tournament against former world No 1 Caroline Wozniacki in a clash that is scheduled fifth from a 2pm start on Court Simonne-Mathieu at the iconic Roland Garros venue.
In table tennis, Egypt’s veteran duo Omar Assar – who made the men’s singles quarter-finals at Tokyo 2020 before losing a close match to five-time Olympic gold medallist Ma Long – and Dina Meshref start their singles competitions.
Assar, seeded 16 in Paris, opens against Fabio Rakotoarimanana, who is Madagascar’s first Olympic table tennis player, while 17th-seeded Meshref faces Spain’s Maria Xiao.
In boxing, Palestinian Wasim Abu Sal will take on Sweden’s Nebil Ibrahim in the Round of 32 of the 57kg category at North Paris Arena, while Jordanian Zeyad Eashash will square off with Aslanbek Shymbergenov of Kazakhstan.
Over by the Eiffel Tower, Egyptian duo Doaa Elghobashy and Marwa Abdelhady open their beach volleyball campaign against Brazil.
There are also Mena athletes competing in shooting, eventing, and fencing on Sunday.
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Spectators in the Trocadero watch a light show on the Eiffel Tower during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. EPA -
Former France international football player Zinedine Zidane, left, hands over the Olympic flame to Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal, who won the French tennis Open 14 times, at the Trocadero Stadium during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. AFP -
The cauldron, with the Olympic flame lit, lifts off while attached to a balloon as the torchbearers French former sprinter Marie-Jose Perec and French judoka Teddy Riner stand in front during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Jardin des Tuileries (Tuileries Garden) in Paris. AFP -
A balloon carrying the lit Olympic cauldron lifts off with the Eiffel Tower in the background during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. AFP -
South Korean athletes in raincoats enter the Trocadero plaza, the venue of the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics. EPA -
France's President Emmanuel Macron, right, and Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee, arrive at the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. AFP -
Members of the Chinese delegation sail along the river Seine during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. AFP -
Torchbearers run during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. AFP -
French President Emmanuel Macron, centre, and his wife Brigitte Macron receive Guinea's Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah, left and his wife Fatimatou Diallo Bah, right, prior to the Olympics opening ceremony at Elysee Palace in Paris. Getty Images -
Crowds gather for the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. AFP -
The Eiffel Tower is illuminated with a light show during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Getty Images -
Zinedine Zidane, former French football player, carries the Olympic torch. Getty Images -
French President Emmanuel Macron declares the Games open. EPA -
Rafael Nadal of Spain carries the Olympic torch during the opening ceremony. Reuters -
The Eiffel Tower and the Olympics ring light up. AP -
The Olympic flag is presented by the The Horsewoman at the Trocadero. Getty Images -
Volunteers in the parade of flags. AP -
The Horsewoman, wearing the flag of the International Olympic Committee, appears on a metal horse at the Trocadero. PA -
An orchestra performs at the Trocadero. PA -
France's flag bearers Florent Manaudou and Melina Robert-Michon sail below the Eiffel Tower. Getty Images -
Heavy metal musicians perform during the opening ceremony. AFP -
Models present creations while walking a catwalk along the Passerelle Debilly bridge. AFP -
Athletes head towards the Trocadero during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. PA -
Athletes from the US travel by boat down the Seine. AP -
Mezzo-soprano Axelle Saint-Cirel, standing on the roof of the Grand-Palais, sings the national anthem of France. EPA -
Representatives of the French armed forces carry the national flag of France. Getty Images -
Palestinian flag bearers Wasim Abusal and Valerie Rose Tarazi travel with teammates along the Seine. AP -
Performers dance along the banks of the Seine. AFP -
The Institut de France is illuminated with fireworks. AFP -
The torchbearer runs past Pont Neuf during the opening ceremony. AFP -
Acrobats perform. AP -
Smoke in the colours of the French flag explodes over Pont d’Austerlitz. Getty Images -
Smoke billows near windows as performers participate in the opening ceremony. AP -
American singer-songwriter Lady Gaga performs at Square Barye during the athletes’ parade. Getty Images -
UAE athletes aboard a boat in the floating parade. Reuters -
Actors perform during the opening ceremony. AP -
Dancers perform on a roof. Getty Images -
Tightrope walker Nathan Paulin performs on a high rope during the athletes’ parade. Getty Images -
A heart created during a aerial display. Getty Images -
An aerial view of the Eiffel Tower and Trocadero at the start of the opening ceremony. Getty Images -
Athletes from the Refugee Olympic Team's delegation sail on a boat along the Seine during the opening ceremony. AFP -
Team Great Britain athletes sail on a boat as they pass under a bridge on the Seine. Getty Images -
The Olympic Torch is seen at the beginning of the athletes’ parade on the Seine. Getty Images -
Olympics fans wearing rain capes as they take their seats for the opening ceremony. Getty Images -
A maintenance worker sweeps water off a skateboard ramp installed on a floating platform in the Seine river. Reuters -
US singer-songwriter, rapper, artist and designer Pharrell Williams and French actress Laetitia Casta stand next to the Olympic torch in Saint-Denis, northern Paris. AFP -
French gendarmes patrol in front of the Louvre before the opening ceremony. Getty Images -
Performers practise near the Seine. Reuters -
French police officers secure the perimeter before the opening ceremony. EPA -
People start queuing to enter the venue of the opening ceremony. AP -
Security officers from the UAE border force on patrol in front of the Louvre. AFP -
French special forces patrol the Seine as the security perimeter for the opening ceremony is put up. Reuters -
Workers prepare the red carpet before the arrival of heads of state at the Elysee Palace in Paris. AP
