Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani is set to attend the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games on Friday. President Barzani received a formal invitation from French President Emmanuel Macron and is scheduled to arrive at the Elysee Palace at 3:30 pm local time. The grand opening ceremony will commence at 7:30 pm local time, with official competitions having started on Wednesday, including events such as football and rugby.

The Iraqi President, Abdul Latif Rashid, also arrived in Paris on Wednesday to attend the opening ceremony.

Iraq will be represented by 22 athletes in the Paris Olympics. The men's football team, consisting of 18 players, is a significant part of the delegation. Additionally, Iraq will compete in judo, swimming, weightlifting, and athletics, with one athlete representing the country in each sport.

A historic moment occurred on Monday when Shilan Shamal, a Kurdish woman from Diyala province, became the first Kurdish athlete to carry the Olympic torch.

The 2024 Games mark Iraq’s sixteenth appearance since its debut in 1948. Iraq's most notable achievement in the Olympics was in the 1960 Rome Games, where Abdul Wahid Aziz won a bronze medal in weightlifting.

In a recent highlight, the Iraqi Olympic football team triumphed over Ukraine in the men's football tournament on Wednesday. Among the players were two Kurdish athletes, Bilind Azad and Yousif Amin, who were called up to be part of the team.

Despite ongoing political instability and disunity, sports, particularly football, have served as a unifying force for the Iraqi population. The national team often garners widespread support during major regional and international tournaments, providing moments of unity and pride for the people regardless of their challenges.