The Iraqi National Olympic Committee has decided that weightlifter Ali Ammar will carry the Iraqi flag at the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics, due to the great expectations surrounding him to win a medal. What do we know about him?
Last Sunday, Iraqi weightlifter Ali Ammar completed his training camp in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region, in preparation for the Paris Olympics, which he will leave for today, Tuesday. The coach of the Iraqi weightlifting team, Ammar Yasser, stated in a statement, “Weightlifter Ali Ammar concluded his camp held in Erbil, in preparation for participating in the Olympic Games taking place in Paris on July 26." He added, “The departure to the French capital is today, Tuesday, and the weightlifter will continue his training in Paris in the period leading up to his participation in the weightlifting competition in the Olympics to achieve full readiness.”
It is noteworthy that weightlifter Ali Ammar, competing in the 109 kg category, officially qualified for the Paris Olympics after surpassing his closest competitors from Japan and Algeria in the Thailand Weightlifting Cup held in Phuket, Thailand. According to the Olympic Committee’s media, Ali Ammar is ranked ninth in the world, closely following the fifth position.
Ali Ammar Yasser represents Iraq in weightlifting at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, embodying Iraq's hope for a positive outcome in this edition of individual sports. The Iraqi National Olympic Committee has set a comprehensive plan to support champion Ali Ammar Yasser for more than two years in preparation for the Paris Olympics, achieving the desired goal of qualifying successfully for the upcoming Games.
The Iraqi Olympic Committee has chosen weightlifter Ali Ammar Yasser, who competes in the weight category above 102 kg, to carry the Iraqi flag at the opening ceremony, in front of a delegation of over fifty individuals led by the head of the Olympic Committee, as stated by the mission director, Harde Raouf.
Yasser expressed, after participating in a training camp in Turkey for several months, "It is a great honor to be given the opportunity to carry the Iraqi flag at the opening ceremony. It will undoubtedly be a historic moment that I will live and cherish throughout my life." He expressed hope in reaching advanced stages, saying, "The competitions will be intense, even more so, with the presence of weightlifting giants. I have spent an important training program in Turkey over the past months."
Yasser, from the community of Al-Sadr, finished fifth in the World Championship in Thailand this year, securing his ticket to the Paris Olympics. His father, former weightlifter Ammar Yasser, oversees his training, mentioning, "The Olympic Committee's interest and support for the preparatory training program have been exemplary and a significant motivator for competition."
Additionally, Iraqi weightlifter Ali Ammar has set a world record in the clean and jerk category, achieving a new world record of 198 kg in the youth category during the World Weightlifting Championship held in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, last year.
