After Dania Nour in 2021, another swimmer will represent Palestine as flag bearer at the Paris Games.
The Palestinian Olympic Committee has announced the name of the flag bearer who will lead the seven other athletes in the delegation at the Paris Games this Friday, July 26. Swimmer Yazan Al-Bawwab will have the privilege of carrying his country’s colors on the Seine during the opening ceremony. They join the 25 Palestinian athletes who have participated in the Games since Palestine entered the competition in 1996.
Yazan Al-Bawwab is participating in the Olympic Games for the second time, after Tokyo in 2021 where he finished 66th in the 100m freestyle. He will be accompanied for the swimming events by Valerie Tarazi, Italian-Palestinian and aligned in the 200m individual medley.
“Whether it’s a medal or not, we’ve already won,” Yazan Al-Bawwab said. “People don’t want Palestinians to exist. They look at the flag and they don’t want it. So being here is a victory.” While seven of the eight athletes received an invitation to represent Palestine, one athlete managed to qualify directly for the Olympics. This was taekwondo athlete Omar Ismail. He earned his ticket at the Olympic qualifying tournament in Tai’an, China. “I’ve dreamed of this moment since I was a little kid. I was very happy to imagine myself in Paris with the best athletes in the world. Very happy to show my flag on the podium.”