‘A political statement to be there’: Palestinian swimmer to take a stand at Olympics

  • 📰 smh
  • ⏱ Reading Time:
  • 47 sec. here
  • 2 min. at publisher
  • 📊 Quality Score:
  • News: 22%
  • Publisher: 80%

Australia Headlines News

Australia Latest News,Australia Headlines

For Palestine’s athletes, Paris 2024 is the most important Olympics since their country was allowed to compete. As conflict rages in Gaza and some of their teammates are killed, they feel the weight of their people’s plight.

The embattled nation has been competing at the Olympics since 1996.It has claimed the lives of some of the country’s best athletes and also prevented others from preparing for the Games.

But as he stood on the starting block, Al-Bawwab’s mind was racing. Was his family safe? Was his home still standing? What did this mean for his loved ones in the West Bank? What about his extended family and colleagues in Gaza? “It’s a political statement to be there. It’s to say, ‘hey, we’re also human beings. And we also have a country, give or take’.Anadolu via Getty Images

More than 300 Palestinian athletes, coaches, referees, and sports officials, many of them from Gaza’s bustling soccer scene, have been killed since October 7, according to the Palestinian Olympic Committee.Among the dead are friends and acquaintances of Al-Bawwab, who lives and trains in Dubai but has extended family in the West Bank and Gaza.

“We were not just participating any more. We were actually doing something that for Palestine never happened in history. And then this thing happens. We go back down,” he said.

 

Thank you for your comment. Your comment will be published after being reviewed.
Please try again later.
We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:

 /  🏆 6. in AU

Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

‘A political statement to be there’: Palestinian swimmer to take a stand at OlympicsFor Palestine’s athletes, Paris 2024 is the most important Olympics since their country was allowed to compete. As conflict rages in Gaza and some of their teammates are killed, they feel the weight of their people’s plight.
Source: brisbanetimes - 🏆 13. / 67 Read more »

‘A political statement to be there’: Palestinian swimmer to take a stand at OlympicsFor Palestine’s athletes, Paris 2024 is the most important Olympics since their country was allowed to compete. As conflict rages in Gaza and some of their teammates are killed, they feel the weight of their people’s plight.
Source: theage - 🏆 8. / 77 Read more »

State Library of New South Wales apologises for removing student wearing Palestinian keffiyeh7NEWS brings you the latest local news from Australia and around the world. Stay up to date with all of the breaking sport, politics, entertainment, finance, weather and business headlines. Today's news, live updates & all the latest breaking stories from 7NEWS.
Source: 7NewsSydney - 🏆 16. / 63 Read more »

Labor senator Fatima Payman crosses the floor to vote for Palestinian statehoodSenator Fatima Payman has defied her party and voted for recognition of Palestinian statehood, arguing she is 'not a token representative of diversity'.
Source: SBSNews - 🏆 3. / 89 Read more »

Labor senator Fatima Payman crosses the floor to vote for Palestinian statehoodSenator Fatima Payman has defied her party and voted for recognition of Palestinian statehood, potentially signalling the end of her time in Labor.
Source: SBSNews - 🏆 3. / 89 Read more »

Labor senator defies party on Palestinian recognitionA vote has been held in the Senate on Palestinian recognition.
Source: abcnews - 🏆 5. / 83 Read more »