Qatar will join Brunei in sending female athletes to the Olympics for the first time this month, and has selected one of them to carry its flag in London. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has backtracked since announcing its decision to send women to the Games, sparking protests from human rights groups.
UPDATE:Â Saudi has now identified two athletes to compete in the London games.
Talk about breaking barriers.
Not only will Qatar field four women athletes to the London Olympic Games, they will also let one of them be their flag bearer.
Shooter Bahiya Mansour Al Hamad, who became Qatar’s first woman representative at the 2010 Singapore Youth Olympic Games, will have the pride of place at the front of the Qatari contingent as they walk down the athletics track at the London Olympic Stadium.
She had told Doha Stadium Plus that she hoped a girl would carry the nation’s flag at the quadrennial extravaganza. Seems like her wish has just been granted.
Stand up, Bahiya, take a bow and make Qatar proud.
Qatar will also field sprinter Noor Al Malki, swimmer Nada Mohammed Wafa Arakji and table tennis player Aya Majdi to the Games.
Credit: Photo courtesy of Doha Stadium Plus
