Doha, July 23 (QNA) - The State of Qatar has maintained a strong presence in the Olympic Games since its debut at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984. The country has shown significant progress from one edition to the next, earning a prominent position among Gulf and Arab nations through the medals won by its athletes over the years.
Qatar's total Olympic medal tally stands at eight: two golds, two silvers, and four bronzes. The Qatari delegation is optimistic about increasing this historic haul at the Paris 2024 Olympics, thanks to the unwavering support and continuous development of Qatari sports, which have propelled the nation to the top rank in the Gulf region and fifth among Arab countries in terms of Olympic medals.
Qatar first participated in the Olympics at the Montreal Games in 1976 with an administrative delegation only. On March 14, 1979, the Qatar Olympic Committee was established, joining the International Olympic Committee in 1980 and the Olympic Council of Asia in 1981.
Qatar's active participation began at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984, competing in football, athletics, and shooting. The football team made a notable debut by drawing 2-2 with France, which went on to win the gold medal. Despite this strong performance, losses to Chile and Norway prevented Qatar from advancing to the quarterfinals.
In the 1988 Seoul Olympics, Qatar sent a delegation of 12 members, including eight athletes in athletics. This participation was crucial for gaining experience, especially as it was only the second Olympic Games held in Asia, following the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
Qatar achieved its first Olympic medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. The delegation of 31 athletes saw Mohamed Suleiman win the bronze medal in the mens 1500 meters, outpacing a field of renowned global athletes and marking a historic moment for Qatar and the Gulf region.
The Qatari Olympic football team also excelled, reaching the quarterfinals for the first time. They secured a 1-0 victory over Egypt, drew 1-1 with Colombia, and lost 2-0 to eventual champions Spain, advancing as the second team in their group but falling to Poland 2-0 in the quarterfinals.
At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Qatar's 12-athlete delegation competed in athletics, shooting, volleyball, and table tennis. This edition marked the Olympic debut of shooter Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah, who would go on to achieve significant milestones in Qatari sports history. Additionally, Hamad Al Hamad participated in table tennis, having earned his spot by winning the West Asia Championship.