Syria at the 2012 Summer Olympics

Syria competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, from 27 July to 12 August 2012. This was the nation's twelfth appearance at the Olympics since its debut in 1948. The Syrian Olympic Committee sent the nation's largest delegation to the Games, after the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul. A total of ten athletes, six men and four women, competed in 6 sports. Four of them received their spots in track and field, and in swimming by wild card entries. Three Syrian athletes had competed in Beijing, including high jumper Majed Aldin Ghazal, who was the nation's flag bearer at the opening ceremony. Among the sports played by the athletes, Syria marked its Olympic debut in equestrian show jumping.

Syria at the
2012 Summer Olympics
IOC codeSYR
NOCSyrian Olympic Committee
Websitewww.syriaolymp.org (in Arabic and English)
in London
Competitors10 in 7 sports
Flag bearer (opening)Majed Aldin Ghazal
Flag bearer (closing)Majed Aldin Ghazal
Medals
Gold
0
Silver
0
Bronze
0
Total
0
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)
Other related appearances
 United Arab Republic (1960)

Because of an ongoing 2011–12 uprising in Syria (then turned into a civil war), there were concerns about Syria's participation to the Olympic games. General Mowaffak Joumaa, president of Syrian National Olympic Committee, told ITV News: "There is no question about it—we are taking part".[1] In April 2012, Abdelbasset Saroot, the former Syrian football goalkeeper, said in an interview with ITV News that his nation's athletes did not want to compete in these games because "they don't want to play for a flag that they have no pride or faith in". According to the British prime minister David Cameron, Syrian athletes must take part in the Olympics, but any of the nation's officials covered by a European Union travel ban were not welcome.[2][3] This was the case for the Syrian Olympic Committee's head General Mowaffak Joumaa, who was denied a visa to travel to the games in an official capacity by the British government.[4] The Syrian team in London refused to comment on the political situation in their homeland; their supporters, however, carried Ba'athist flags and voiced their support for the Syrian government.[5]

Syria did not win any medals at the 2012 Olympics. Their last Olympic medal came in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, where Naser Al Shami won the bronze for heavyweight boxing. [6]

Athletics
Main article: Athletics at the 2012 Summer Olympics
Men
Athlete Event Qualification Final
Distance Position Distance Position
Majed Aldin Ghazal High jump 2.16 28 Did not advance
Women
Athlete Event Heat Semifinal Final
Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank
Ghofrane Mohammad 400 m hurdles 58.09 DSQ* Did not advance

* Almouhamad was disqualified on 7 August after failing a drug test for the banned substance methylhexanamine.[7][8]

Boxing
Main article: Boxing at the 2012 Summer Olympics

Syria earned 1 quota in boxing.

Men
Athlete Event Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
Opposition
Result		 Opposition
Result		 Opposition
Result		 Opposition
Result		 Opposition
Result		 Rank
Wessam Salamana Bantamweight  Abutalipov (KAZ)
L 7–15		 Did not advance

Cycling
Main article: Cycling at the 2012 Summer Olympics

Road
Athlete Event Time Rank
Omar Hasanin Men's road race Did not finish

Equestrian
Main article: Equestrian at the 2012 Summer Olympics

Syria made its Olympic debut in equestrian events.[9]

Jumping
Athlete Horse Event Qualification Final Total
Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round A Round B
Penalties Rank Penalties Total Rank Penalties Total Rank Penalties Rank Penalties Total Rank Penalties Rank
Ahmad Saber Hamcho Wonderboy Individual 1 =33 Q 29 30 62 Did not advance 30 62

Shooting
Main article: Shooting at the 2012 Summer Olympics
Women
Athlete Event Qualification Final
Points Rank Points Rank
Raya Zin Aldden 10 m air rifle 388 50 Did not advance

Swimming
Main article: Swimming at the 2012 Summer Olympics

Syria received two "Universality places" from the FINA.[10]

Men
Athlete Event Heat Semifinal Final
Time Rank Time Rank Time Rank
Azad Al-Barazi 100 m breaststroke 1:03.48 39 Did not advance
Women
Athlete Event Heat Semifinal Final
Time Rank Time Rank Time Rank
Bayan Jumah 100 m freestyle 59.78 40 Did not advance

Weightlifting
Main article: Weightlifting at the 2012 Summer Olympics

Syria qualified the following quota places.

Athlete Event Snatch Clean & Jerk Total Rank
Result Rank Result Rank
Ahed Joughili Men's −105 kg 180 8 218 5 398 4
Thuraia Sobh Women's −75 kg 86 11 115 11 201 8

References
  1. "Olympics-Syrians don't want to take part in London Games-Saroot", Yahoo Sports, 4 April 2012.
  2. "Syrians don't want to take part in London Games – Saroot", moneycontrol.com, 4 April 2012.
  3. "Syrian NOC Chief Denied Visa" Around the Rings
  4. Helen William (22 June 2012). "Syria Olympics chief General Mowaffak Joumaa 'refused visa' - Home News - UK". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2022-05-26.
  5. Cahal Milmo (25 July 2012). "London 2012: 18-strong Syrian delegation refuse to speak about Assad at Olympic Welcoming Ceremony - World Politics - World". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2022-05-26.
  6. الاتحاد الرياضي الاولمبي السوري
  7. "Ghfran Almouhamad DQ'd for doping". ESPN. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  8. "IOC DISCIPLINARY COMMISSION DECISION REGARDING MS. GHFRAN ALMOUHAMAD" (PDF). IOC. 2012-08-11. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
  9. "London 2012 Olympics qualifying: Equestrian". BBC. 2 January 2011. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
  10. "FINA Universality Places" (PDF). FINA. 6 July 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
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