As the world entered a new millennium, Sydney hosted its first Summer Olympics Games. This picture of the UAE team was taken at the opening ceremony on Friday, September 15, 2000.
It was the UAE's fifth participation in the Games, having previously competed in Los Angeles, Seoul, Barcelona and Atlanta in 1984, 1988, 1992 and 1996, respectively. Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum was the flag bearer for the second time. Ali Al Neyadi took part in the men's 200-metre race and Ayoub Almas hit the pool for the men's 50-metre freestyle swim event.
Neither athlete took home a prize that year, but the UAE gained its first Olympic medal in the next Games when Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Maktoum won gold in the men's double trap shooting competition. The country won its second medal at the 2016 event in Rio de Janeiro, when Sergiu Toma won bronze in a judo competition.
