A 12-member Bangladesh contingent leave Dhaka for China today (Wednesday) to take part in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games to be held August 8-24 with a view to gathering experience ahead of the upcoming South Asian Games in Dhaka, reports UNB.
Of the 28 disciplines in the Olympics, Bangladesh will compete in three disciplines -- athletics, swimming and shooting.
Some 10,500 athletes from all over the world are expected to compete in the 17-day sports carnival for the 302 gold at stake. A record 20,000 accredited journalists are expected to cover the greatest show on earth.
As per the last moment decision of Bangladesh Olympic Association, swimmer Mohammad Rubel Rana will carry the national flag in the grand opening ceremony Friday in place of SAF gold winning shooter Sharmin Akhter.
Sharmin Akhter will not participate in her favourite 10m Air Rifle event as per the decision of Delegation Registration Meeting (DRM) held in Beijing Tuesday, but will accompany the Beijing-bound Bangladesh contingent today (Wednesday) as an observer.
She will also act as the brand ambassador of G4S, a global security solutions group, in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
On the eve of departure, athlete Abu Abdullah told, "My target is to make a good fight with our sub-continental rivals and to learn something from World Class athletes.
Swimmer Rubel Rana and athlete Nazmun Nahar Beauty said their target is to improve upon their performance and gather experience for the next South Asian Games in Dhaka December next year.
Bangladesh contingent comprising five sportsmen -- two athletes, two swimmers and one shooter, three team manager-cum-coaches, one general team manager, one observer (Sharmin Akhter) and two participants of youth camp, leaves for Beijing Wednesday.
Earlier, on Monday, Chef-de-mission of Bangladesh contingent Major General Shakil Ahmed and BOA director cum CEO Col (retd) Mohammad Wali Ullah left the capital for Beijing as advance party in the first batch.
The third batch with the Chief Adviser's Special Assistant for Youth and Sports Mahbub Jamil, BOA President General Moeen U Ahmed and BOA Secretary General Kutubuddin Ahmed will fly for Beijing Thursday (Aug 7), a day before the mega sports festival starts.
Five Bangladeshi sportsmen will take part in one event each with athletes and swimmers competing in the heats while the shooter in the qualifying round.
Swimmer Rubel Rana will compete in the men's 50m backstroke on the very first day of the Games on Aug 9 while another swimmer Dolly Akhter will participate in women's 50m freestyle on Aug 15 at the National Aquatic Centre, Beijing.
Bangladeshi athlete Mohammad Abu Abdullah will compete in the games hot event of men's 100-metre sprint on Aug 15 while another athlete Nazmun Nahar Beauty will contest in women's 100-metre sprint on Aug 16, both at the games premier venue -National Stadium in Beijing.
Shooter M Imam Hossain will compete in men's 10-metre Air Rifle on Aug 11 at the Beijing Shooting Range.
Bangladesh contingent: Sadruddin Ahmed (General Team Manager), Mohammad Abu Abdullah, Nazmun Nahar Beauty (athletics), Nazmul Islam Rumi (athletics coach); M Rubel Rana, Dolly Akhter (swimming), SM Israfil (swimming coach); M Imam Hossain (shooting), M Shoyeb Uzzaman (shooting coach), Sharmin Akhter (observer).
Participants of Youth Camp: Abu Hena M Kawser and Sharlin Manjoor.
Delegates and Officials: Mahbub Jamil (Special Assistant to CA for Youth and Sports), Gen Moeen U Ahmed (BOA president), Kutubuddin Ahmed (BOA secretary general), Maj Gen Shakil Ahmed (Chef-de-mission), Col (retd) M Wali Ullah (administrative officer).
