When Christina Rach, a student at GEMS Wellington International School in Dubai, secured her spot at the Paris Olympics last month, her family was visibly emotional. Their joy was likely rekindled when Christina, at just 16, was chosen to carry the flag for Eritrea during the spectacular opening ceremony on Friday night. The young swimmer, whose mother hails from Eritrea, is set to participate in the 50-metre freestyle event at the Paris Games. In a previous interview with Khaleej Times, Christina, whose father was a former professional ice hockey player from Germany, expressed her pride in qualifying for the world's premier sporting event. "I am filled with immense pride, knowing I will represent my country at such a young age," she shared. "I aspire to inspire young girls in both the UAE and Eritrea, encouraging them not only in swimming but also in other sports, ensuring they pursue what makes them happy and proud."
Christina is not alone in her Olympic journey; five other athletes from Dubai are also competing in Paris. Tanisha Crasto will compete for India in badminton, and swimmers Yazan Al Bawwab (Palestine), Muhammad Ahmed Durrani (Pakistan), Rana Saad Al Din (Sudan), and Karen Belbeisi (Jordan) will also be part of the 2024 Summer Olympics. Durrani, 18, who is debuting at the Games, attributes his success to Dubai's exceptional sporting facilities. "Without Dubai and the support from various federations, coaches, and my schools (Jumeirah Primary School and Dubai English Speaking College), I wouldn't be where I am today," he told Khaleej Times. "The UAE's continuous hosting of top-tier competitions annually has provided the perfect platform to hone my swimming skills."
Dubai's commitment to excellence in sports is further highlighted by the Hamdan Sports Complex, which Durrani considers the world's best pool. "I've seen some of the finest pools in countries like China, Malaysia, and Singapore, but none compare to the one at Hamdan Sports Complex," he remarked. Meanwhile, the 14-member Emirati team also proudly carried the UAE flag during the opening ceremony. Equestrian Omar Al Marzouqi and cyclist Safiya Al Sayegh led the UAE contingent, with Marzouqi being a silver medalist at the recent Asian Games and Al Sayegh making history as the first Emirati female cyclist to qualify for the Olympics.
