PARIS (26 July 2024): As the Parade of Nations cruise around the River Seine under the pouring rain, the Malaysian Contingent was represented by six athletes and four officials at the opening ceremony of the XXXIII Olympic Games Paris 2024, attired in the golden-hued the Malaya, a collection designed by Rizman Ruzaini as a stunning embodiment of the country’s heritage and cultural pride.
Led by the two flag bearers, diver Bertrand Rhodict Lises and sailor Nur Shazrin Mohamad Latif OLY, the Contingent exuded elegance and confidence despite being drenched in the wet opening ceremony as they meandered along 6 kilometres on the Seine, between the Austerlitz and the Iena bridges, before a grand finale at the Trocadero as the laser beams from the Eiffel Tower shining over the flotilla.
Throughout the route, the athletes were immersed in the emblematic scenery and the historical monuments of Paris in the background as Nur Dhabitah Sabri OLY (Aquatic – Diving), Khairulnizam Mohd Afendy OLY (Sailing), Ashley Lau (Golf) and Tan Rouxin (Aquatic – Swimming), who is the youngest member of the 26-strong Contingent, became among the select few to be wearing the glamorous costume,
Accompanying Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin as the Chef de Mission on the boat were Deputy Chef de Mission, Datuk Nicol Ann David, Chief Medical Officer Dr Jasmiza Khuzairi Jasme and safeguarding officer Ang Li Peng. The rain failed to dampen the Contingent.
Nur Shazrin, a gold medallist at the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 who is looking forward to her third appearance at the Olympics, and her fellow female athletes appeared resplendent in the songket-patterned Baju Kurung with a flowing headscarf whereas Rhodict, a debutant, and Khairulnizam, bidding to compete at his fourth Olympics, were dressed in Baju Melayu Teluk Belanga, paired with songkok and sampin.
In a flotilla of 85 boats of various sizes, The Contingent emerged as the No 112 team in the procession, appearing with the delegation from Malawi and Maldives on the same boat.
Under the open air concept, the strict security measures imposed by the organisers meant the Contingent was restricted to 10 members as the ceremony was held before an audience of head of states, dignitaries and sporting leaders from all four corners of the globe. Only a limited number of athletes from Malaysia was available due to the tight competition schedule, while Nur Shazrin and Khairulnizam travelled from Marseille at the south of France, to be part of the Contingent.
Also present at the ceremony were Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Y.B Adam Adli Abdul Halim, Tan Sri Dato’ Sri (Dr) Mohamad Norza Zakaria as the OCM President and Dato’ Mohd Nazifuddin as the OCM secretary general.
The first batch of athletes who saw action were the Women’s Archery recurve trio in the individual ranking round at Invalides
on 25 July 2024, with Syaqiera Mashayikh OLY finishing 14th, while Ariana Nur Dania Mohamad Zairi (50th) and Nur Azreena Mohd Fazil (60th).
On Saturday 27 July 2024, the Malaysian athletes in action are Badminton’s Aaron Chia OLY-Soh Wooi Yik OLY (Men’s Doubles), Pearly Tan Koong Le and Thinaah Muralitharan (Women’s Doubles) and Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei (Mixed Doubles) at the Porte de La Chappelle, shooter Johnathan Wong Guanjie OLY in Men’s 10m Air Pistol at Chateauroux and and Khiew Hoe Yean in the Aquatics – Swimming Men’s 400m Freestyle at the Paris La Defense Arena.