The opening ceremony for the 2024 Paris Olympics is scheduled for tonight(26 July) at 9 pm local time (1.30am Malaysian time on 27 July). While Malaysian athletes are geared up in France, most will not be attending the ceremony.
According to China Press, BAM coaching director Rexy Mainaky confirmed that most Malaysian athletes will miss the opening ceremony.
As a result, Malaysian officials will represent the delegation instead.
Tight schedule reason for absence
With the badminton schedule being particularly tight, the opening ceremony on July 26 came in conflict with the first group matches on July 27.
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Many Malaysian badminton players will skip the ceremony to prepare for these matches.
In the men’s doubles Group A, bronze medalists Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik will face Ben Lane and Sean Vendy from Great Britain. In the mixed doubles Group D, Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei will compete against Singapore’s Terry Hee and Jessica Tan.
Women’s doubles Group A, dubbed the “group of death,” will see Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah challenging China’s world number one pair, Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan.
Additionally, three female archers—Nur Dania Zairi, Nurul Azreena Fazil, and Syaqiera Mashayikh will not attend the opening ceremony as their events begin on July 24.
Sprinter Mohamad Azim will depart for Paris on July 28.
Road cyclist Noor Eiza will travel from Brussels to Paris on July 30. Track cycling team members Datuk Azizulhasni Awang, Muhammad Shah Firdaus, and Nurul Izzah will leave from Mallorca, Spain, on August 1.
Therefore, only a few athletes from sailing, diving, and golf, along with some officials, will attend the opening ceremony.
Bertrand Rhodict & Nur Shazrin appointed as flag bearers
Platform diver Bertrand Rhodict and sailor Nur Shazrin will be the flag bearers for Malaysia.
The 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony, held on the Seine River for the first time, is highly anticipated. Despite the absence of most athletes, the nation remains hopeful that they will perform exceptionally well and achieve remarkable results.
Good luck to all the Malaysian athletes!
