The champions of Qatar have succeeded in writing the history of Qatari sports in golden letters during the thirty-second edition of the Olympic Games held in Tokyo, Japan, which concluded yesterday before handing over the Olympic flag to Paris, which is preparing to host the next edition in 2024. Qatar's participation in the Tokyo Olympics marks its tenth consecutive appearance, with 15 male and female athletes competing in 7 different sports, leading the delegation to achieve a historic milestone as the Qatari national anthem was played on two occasions and the national flag waved proudly in the skies of Tokyo. This historic achievement opens a new era of Qatari Olympic accomplishments, having invested in sports for many years to reach global and Olympic podiums.
#### Gulf and Arab Leadership
For the first time in the history of the Olympics, Qatar emerged as the leading Gulf and Arab nation in terms of Olympic achievements, with its delegation achieving unprecedented historical figures by winning 3 medals: two golds and one bronze. The journey began with weightlifter Fares Ibrahim winning the gold medal in the 96 kg category of the weightlifting competition, while the second medal went to the historic champion Mutaz Barshim in high jump, who cleared a height of 2.37 m, tying with Italian Gianmarco Tamberi after the judge approved Barshim's proposal to award gold to both athletes in a historic moment that exemplifies sportsmanship in the Olympics.
The duo of Sharif Younis and Ahmed Tijan capped off the Qatari successes with a third-place finish and a bronze medal in beach volleyball after defeating the Latvian duo. Although Egypt secured the largest number of Arab medals in Tokyo with a total of 6 (one gold, one silver, and four bronzes), it finished second among Arab countries behind Qatar. Tunisia ranked third with two medals (one gold and one silver), while Morocco placed fourth with one gold, and Jordan came fifth with a silver and a bronze. Saudi Arabia and Bahrain each won a silver, followed by Kuwait and Syria with one bronze each.
#### Popular Joy Boosts Enthusiasm
The sports fans in Qatar celebrated intensely over the past days, closely following the progress of the national team in the Tokyo Olympics, eagerly awaiting to celebrate the achievements. Voices rang out from all corners, chanting the names of gold champions Fares Ibrahim, Mutaz Barshim, and the beach volleyball duo Sharif Younis and Ahmed Tijan, who secured the bronze medal.
Reactions in the Qatari streets had a positive impact on our champions as they were part of the delegation, all the way until their arrival at Doha International Airport, where they were met with enthusiastic official reception, including the presence of the personal representative of His Highness the Emir at the forefront of the welcome.
This warm reception for our delegation is expected to enhance the determination and enthusiasm of our athletes to achieve more accomplishments in the future, with a strong consensus that these medals are not the last in the record of Qatari sports but merely a new beginning towards more achievements.
#### 42 Years of Achievements
Qatar has witnessed significant developments in sports and the Olympic movement over the past 42 years since its establishment in 1979, achieving many unprecedented accomplishments across various levels, thanks to the prominent role played by the Qatari Olympic Committee in elevating all types of sports, in addition to hosting numerous major sporting events that have made Qatar a capital of sports globally. Over the decades, many distinguished figures have taken the helm of the Qatari Olympic Committee, leading to substantial achievements regionally, continentally, and internationally. In 2015, His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani became the president of the Qatari Olympic Committee, continuing a golden streak of achievements culminating in the unprecedented successes seen at the Tokyo Olympics.
#### A New Era
Since the arrival of the Qatari delegation in Tokyo, everyone was confident that they had ample chances to achieve historical accomplishments for Qatari sports, which indeed materialized, starting with weightlifter Fares Ibrahim’s triumph over legends of global weightlifting, achieving an Olympic record of 402 kilograms to win the men’s gold in the 96 kg category at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
The champion weightlifter Fares Ibrahim lifted 177 kilograms in the snatch and set an Olympic record with a clean and jerk of 225 kilograms, finishing with a total of 402 kilograms, marking his second Olympic record on that historic night. The golden falcon Mutaz Barshim delivered on his promises to gift Qatar its second medal before the beach volleyball duo finalized the collective achievements with a bronze medal.
These accomplishments will be remembered in history and enhanced in the future, amid ongoing interest and support from the wise leadership for sports and athletes, appreciating their efforts to continue raising the national flag high in various international and Olympic forums.
