Head
of the Palestinian Olympic Committee Ahmad Al-Qidwa said the
Palestinian delegation to the Olympics is a source of pride to all
Palestinians.
"Palestine
is present in all international events despite all obstacles and
challenges," Qidwa told IslamOnline.net Sunday, July 11.
‘Palestinian
Ambassador’
Bekhet,
19, takes all kinds of pains everyday to train herself to be up to the
cut-throat competition under deplorable conditions imposed by the
Israeli occupation.
"I
want to be an ambassador to my country and tell the entire world that
Palestine does exist despite all sufferings," jubilant Behket
told IOL.
Though
her winning chance is almost slim due to poor training, she pledged to
try her best in the events.
"I
adapt to all hardships around and do it all by myself in the absence
of proper sports infrastructure," she said.
"I’m,
for instance, training in a nearby rocky field in the Gaza Strip and
running across the beach," enthusiastic Bekhet added.
Her
colleague Ewisat, 17, is only four seconds off the Olympic time.
"Countries
spend millions to make an Olympic champion, but our staunch will is
our sharpest weapon," said Ewisat, who trains in a makeshift
swimming pool in Al-Quds (occupied East Jerusalem).
The
International Olympic Committee first recognized the Palestinian
Olympic Committee in 1934. But after the Israeli occupation in 1948
and the declaration of the state of Israel, its name was changed to
the Israeli Olympic Committee.
It
was re-recognized in 1993 after the signing of an interim
Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement known as the Oslo Accord.
A
Palestinian team competed in the Atlanta and Sydney Olympics in 1996
and 2000 respectively, but secured no medals.
But
disc-throwing champion Hossam Azzam was awarded a bronze medal in the
Sydney Special Olympics.On June 26, Palestinian President Yasser
Arafat carried the Olympic flame to Kalandia checkpoint between
Ramallah and Al-Quds.
He
even said he was committed to an "Olympic truce" during the
international games.
The
Olympic flame returned to Greece on July 9 after an international tour
on all five continents, through 26 countries and 34 cities.
It
will now continue its travels in Greece until it arrives at the Athens
Olympics Stadium on the evening of August 13.
