Crowds of excitable fans draped in national colours flocked to Bahrain International Airport to board flights to Doha to watch their handball heroes live in action.
They will be supporting the national handball team against Japan in tonight's final of the Asian Men’s Handball Qualification Tournament for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Initially, Supreme Council for Youth and Sports first deputy chairman, General Sports Authority chairman and Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, ordered arrangements to take Bahraini supporters on a Gulf Air flight.
Due to the demand and the rush to the airport from Bahrainis wanting to play their part and show support, a second aircraft took the additional load.
The supporters divided into two with 130 fans on each plane as they sung and cheered all the way to the Duhail Sports Hall.
Al Ahli Club Supporters Group president Hussain Al Samaheeji speaking on board one of two Gulf Air flights described the atmosphere: "This is a fully packed plane with Bahraini fans ready to go to Qatar to support the Warriors in their quest to reach Paris."
Actors and social media influencers were also onboard.
Actor Jaffar Al Sari, seated nearby the window, and influencer Ali Mahdi, were confident and guaranteed victory even before the start of the match when asked to comment.