Showjumper Al-Duhami, taekwondo star Abutaleb chosen as Saudi flagbearers at Olympics opening ceremony

Showjumper Ramzy Al-Duhami and taekwondo star Dunya Abutaleb have been selected as the Saudi flagbearers at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony on Friday. (Supplied/SOPC)
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  • Al-Duhami was selected due to his status as the Saudi athlete to have competed at the most Olympic Games
  • Abutaleb got the nod for becoming the first woman from the Kingdom to qualify directly for the Paris Games

RIYADH: Showjumper Ramzy Al-Duhami and taekwondo star Dunya Abutaleb have been selected as the Saudi flagbearers at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony on Friday, it was announced on Thursday.

Al-Duhami was selected due to his status as the Saudi athlete to have competed at the most Olympic Games, while Abutaleb got the nod for becoming the first woman from the Kingdom to qualify directly for the Paris Games, the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee said.

The opening ceremony gets underway on Friday evening along the Seine River in Paris, and the Games will be officially launched by French President Emmanuel Macron and International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach.

Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki, president of the Saudi Arabian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and sports minister, will also attend the ceremony. 

IOC board member Prince Fahd bin Jalawi and the Kingdom’s Ambassador to the US Princess Reema bint Bandar will also be in attendance in Paris.