Hamed bin Sulaiman Al-Hosani, a young swimmer and national representative from Oman, was chosen as the flag bearer for his country at the opening ceremony of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. This event marks a significant milestone in his sports career and reflects his pride and responsibility in his first appearance at these competitions.
Presence of Omani Officials at the Ceremony
The ceremony was attended by Engineer Khalfan bin Saleh Al-Nabi, a member of the board of the Oman Olympic Committee and head of the Omani delegation, as well as HE Rashid bin Ali bin Hamid Al-Badi, the Omani ambassador to Senegal, and representatives from the Omani embassy in Dakar. Members of the sports and administrative teams also participated in traditional Omani attire, proudly showcasing the cultural identity of the Sultanate of Oman.
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Hamed Al-Hosani's Pride as Flag Bearer
Hamed Al-Hosani expressed that he feels a great sense of pride and responsibility as the flag bearer for Oman. He views this experience as a source of motivation for his future competitions in Dakar and other international events. He also emphasized that this moment represents national values, belonging, and loyalty to his homeland.
Hamed Al-Hosani added: "I am very happy for the opportunity to carry my country's flag, and I hope to achieve positive results in these games and grow as an international swimmer." He also thanked the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth, the Oman Olympic Committee, and the Oman Swimming Association for their continuous support.
Omani Athletes' Readiness for Competitions
Following the opening ceremony, attention has now turned to the sports program. Three young Omani athletes will represent the Sultanate in swimming, taekwondo, and fencing. Hamed Al-Hosani will compete in the men's 400 meters freestyle on Tuesday, November 3, at the Tour de L'Eau Complex in Dakar. This event will mark his first competitive appearance in Dakar 2026.
Due to the high water temperature in the Olympic pool, the organizers, in collaboration with the International Swimming Federation, canceled the men's and women's 800 meters freestyle events that were scheduled for Sunday. Hamed Al-Hosani continues his daily training in Dakar under the supervision of the national swimming team coach, Mohamed Bougra from Algeria, to prepare for these competitions.
The second Omani athlete in this event will be Zaid bin Ali Al-Balushi, a national taekwondo athlete, who will compete in the men's under 48 kg category on November 8 at the IBA Mar Diop Arena in Dakar. Additionally, the Sultanate of Oman will be represented by young fencer Jana Al-Sharji, who has a silver medal from the World Championships, competing in the women's individual épée event on November 10 at the Expo Dakar in Diamniadio.
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