The UAE will represent thirteen athletes at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
Thirteen athletes will represent the United Arab Emirates in six different disciplines - judo, swimming, weightlifting, athletics, cycling and shooting.
For Nada al-Bedwawi, one of four women in the delegation of athletes, participation in the Games will be literally significant. The young athlete, who is known as the first woman to represent the UAE at the 2015 World Swimming Championships, will be the flag carrier of the UAE at the opening ceremony on August 5.
In the list of approved athletes you can see several Russian surnames - these are the best Moldavian judokas who have been playing for the UAE national team for several years.
More athletes were announced at the initial stages of the 2016 Games selection, however, due to the spread of the Zika virus in Latin America, several athletes withdrew from the Games in disciplines such as golf and tennis.
UAE national team at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games in 2016:
Aisha Al Balushi
Age: 24
Sports: Weightlifting, in the weight category up to 58 kilograms Al Balushi has represented the UAE in a number of regional and world weightlifting tournaments since 2009.
Yakub Al SaadiAge: 20
Sports: Swimming, distance 50 and 100 meters on the back.
Yakub holds the title of UAE national record holder in backstroke.
Nada al-Bedwawi
Age: 19
Sports: Swimming, freestyle 50 meters.
Al-Bedwawi is one of the first UAE athletes to compete in the 2015 World Swimming Championships in Kazan. She is the UAE's national backstroke champion.
Bethlehem DesalenAge: 24
Sports: Athletics, 1500m race.
Bethlem Desalen took the first gold medals in 2013 at the Asian Championships in Athletics in the 1,500 and 5,000 meter race; in 2015-2016, she also became a gold medalist at the Asian Championships in these disciplines.
Alia Said Mohammed
Age 25
Sports: Athletics, 10,000 meters race.
Aliya set the UAE national record in 2014 by running 10,000 meters at the Asian Games in 31: 51.86 minutes, sec ...
Saud Al ZaabiAge: 27
Sports: Athletics, 1500m race.
At the last moment, the UAE Athletics Federation replaced the hammer thrower Mohamed Omar al-Khatib with the runner Al Zaabi. Saud, a police officer in Abu Dhabi, only participated in police competitions; this year in Rio he will have an international debut.
Yousef MirzaAge: 27
Sports: Group road cycling race for men, distance 250 kilometers.
Despite the fact that in May last year, Yusif received serious injuries to his shoulder and legs in an accident on a motorcycle, he was able to quickly recover from an injury.
Victor SkvortsovAge: 28
Sports: Judo
Victor brought the UAE a bronze medal at the 2014 Judo World Championships. After the Olympics in London, he left Moldova and moved to the UAE.
Sergiu (Sergey) Toma
Age: 29
Sports: Judo
Sergey won the Grand Prix of Ulan Bator, Qingdao and Abu Dhabi in the 81 kg category in 2013. He left Moldova and moved to the UAE.
Ivan Remarenko
Age: 27
Sports: Judo
Ivan has already participated in the 2012 Summer Olympics in the 90 kg weight category. In 2014, at the World Judo Championships, Ivan brought the UAE team a bronze medal in the weight category of 100 kg. He left Moldova and moved to the UAE.
Khaled Al Qa'abiSports: Shooting, double-trap booth shooting.
Khaled, an Abu Dhabi police officer, has been shooting sports for only two years, but he is qualified for the Olympics this year.
Said bin Maktoum bin Rashid Al MaktoumAge: 40
Sports: Shooting, skeet.
Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum bin Rashid al Maktoum is the nephew of the UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Sheikh Said won one gold, two silver and two bronze medals at the Asian Championships from 2000 to 2012.
Saif Bin FuttaysAge: 42
Sports: Shooting, skeet.
Saif, a two-time ISSF World Cup shooter medalist, won gold this year at the Asian Olympic Qualification Shooting Tournament. Since 1984, the UAE has participated in the Olympic Games 8 times, the only gold medal was won at the Games in 2004 in Greece thanks to the successful performance of Ahmed Al Maktoum in the shooting competition.
