Today, Bahrain officially begins its participation in the 33rd Olympic Games in Paris with swimmer Amani Al-Obaidli competing in the 100-meter backstroke qualifiers at 11:00 am (12:00 pm Bahrain time) at the "Paris La Defense Arena" swimming pool.

Amani Al-Obaidli, who made her international debut at the Arab Games in Algeria in 2023, has earned multiple medals, including a silver in the 100-meter backstroke (1:05.06 minutes), a silver in the 50-meter backstroke (29:64 seconds), and bronze medals in the 200-meter backstroke (2:25.16 minutes) and 50-meter freestyle (26:79 seconds). She also claimed four gold medals at the Gulf Youth Games in the UAE last April. Amani is determined to improve her personal best record of 1:04.76 minutes achieved at the Hancock race in Australia.

Expressing her readiness, Amani stated, "I look forward to making the people of Bahrain proud and delivering my best performance. My main goal is to improve my personal record."

Reflecting on the honour of carrying the Kingdom's flag at the opening ceremony, she added, "It is a wonderful and unforgettable moment that adds great value to my sports career with immense pride and honour."

Meqbel: Proud of Our Olympic Participation and Flag Bearers

His Excellency Advisor Dr Mohammed Ali Meqbel, President of the Bahrain Swimming Association, expressed pride in Bahrain's representation at the Paris 2024 Olympics and the inclusion of the swimming team among the national teams in this major global sporting event.

He stated, "The swimming competition will commence tomorrow with Amani Al-Obaidli participating in the 100-meter backstroke. Our swimmers are fully prepared, both mentally and physically, and we are hopeful for strong performances."

Regarding the selection of swimmers Saud Salah and Amani Al-Obaidli to carry the Kingdom's flag, he added, "I extend my sincere gratitude to the Olympic Committee for this honour. It is a source of pride for all of us, and we hope to achieve positive results."