RIGHTS: Athens Produces Some Losing Winners

By IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

Nick Constantopoulos

ATHENS, Sep 1 2004 (IPS) - The old wisdom that you win something by just playing the game could hardly have been more true than for the Iraqi, Palestinian and Afghan teams at the Olympics.

The Iraqi football team battled for bronze but lost to Italy. It was applauded hugely for making the semi-finals after beating Portugal, Costa Rica and Australia on the way. Iraq sent a delegation of 20, mainly football players.

The Iraqi football team drew also some mixed support. The remark by U.S. President George Bush that he would like to visit Athens to watch the Iraqi football tem play was, to say the least, unsuccessful in promoting the Iraqi cause.

What made the difference was the crowd support the Iraqi footballers got. Coach Adnan Hamad Majeed said: “We wish to thank both the Iraqi and other fans who supported us. As you know there are no (football) competitions held in Iraq. We don’t have stadiums or facilities and this is surprising for the level of football game we have played during the tournament.”

Iraq’s previous best Olympic performance was to reach the quarterfinals of the 1980 Olympics in Moscow.

The Afghan delegation of five was hugely cheered, even though they won no medals. The Afghans returned to the Olympics after an eight-year absence.

Particularly significant was the inclusion of two women competitors in the team. “I’m really happy to be here as an Afghan athlete, because it’s the first time that the Afghan women are participating in the Olympics,” said Robina Muqimyar, judo competitor.

Afghan welterweight boxer Barshamal Sultani lost to his Egyptian opponent Mohamed Hikal. Hikal spoke after the game of the huge crowd support for the Afghani boxer. Hikal won on points, but Sultani had made quite another point.

The Palestinian delegation was only three-strong, but Sanna Abubkheet, Adbalsalam and Raad Awaisat all found fans enough.

Seventeen-year-old Raad Awaisat from the east Jerusalem town of Jabal al-Mukabir trained for the 100-metre butterfly race in a 25-metre pool of sorts running through his backyard and through that of three neighbours. The one-lane pool was covered with nylon to hide it from Israeli authorities. The family feared the Israelis would not approve any expression of Palestinian nationalism in occupied east Jerusalem.

Raad trained extensively in that chlorine filled tub with the help of his coach, his father and the neighbouring families.

He swam the 100 metres in Athens in a minute and a second, six seconds behind the average second round qualifying time, and ten seconds behind the gold medal time. And yet hundreds of fans waving the Palestinian flag made a hero of him.

Raad plans to come back stronger in 2008. His participation has inspired other Palestinians to prepare for world sports. The International Committee of Swimmers promised support to Palestinians.

Sanna Abubkheet was a losing winner in the 800 metres. Her big win was that she was the first Palestinian woman athlete in the Olympics. She had only one pair of running shoes to train in. She had no sponsors, and no proper track to run on.

She was pelted with sticks and stones as she began training in 2000 – because she ran wearing shorts and a t-shirt. So she took to training in a full-length track suit even in the heat.

Her fastest of 2 minutes and 28 seconds is all of half a minute behind the world record. But she recognises that for a Palestinian competing is a political act. “We will show the world that Palestine and the Palestinians are present,” said Sanna before the Games.

But it was not easy to forget that there is fighting sometimes just a few kilometers from where she trained. “I have to put it out of my mind so I can focus on getting ready for the Olympics,” she said before the Olympics. Crowd support made it clear that so many want sports to win against the fighting.