Gaza runner ready to fly Palestinian flag in London

Gaza: Gaza runner Bahaa Al Farra treads carefully, braving the elements and potholed roads ravaged by years of conflict between Palestinian resistance fighters and the Israeli army, as he prepares to race at the London Olympics.

The 19-year-old trains for three hours a day in Gaza's Yarmouk football stadium, along the dusty streets and on the beach in well-worn trainers that were donated to the Palestine Olympic Committee by Qatar.

Palestinian athletes complain of a paucity of financial support at home and a lack of vital equipment and coaches, all factors crucial for success and to nurture talented youth but, by competing in London, a national dream will be realised.

The Gaza Strip is a critical component of a future Palestinian state along with the occupied West Bank and Arab East Jerusalem. In 2007, the Hamas resistance movement ousted Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah group from the enclave widening political divisions in Palestinian society, but the two factions are currently trying to implement a signed reconciliation pact.

The Palestinian flag first flew at the Olympics in Atlanta in 1996, when one athlete took part — Sydney 2000 welcomed two competitors and three went to Athens in 2004. All got a roaring welcome, but it was for participation rather than achievement.

Previous participation

A party of four travelled to Beijing four years ago — two track athletes and two swimmers — but, as in previous Games, none got there by attaining the minimum Olympic qualifying standard, they were entered under rules for fledgling nations.

Four Palestinians will also participate in London. Joining Al Farra will be Cairo-based swimmer Ahmad Jabreel and two West Bank women, swimmer Sabin Hazboon from Bethlehem and runner Worood Maslaha from Nablus.

Representative squad

Hani Al Halabi from occupies East Jerusalem, who will head the Palestinian delegation, said the make-up of the current squad was representative of all Palestinians wherever they live. "We want to embody the Palestinian issue by including participants from the Gaza Strip, the [occupied] West Bank, Jerusalem and the diaspora. Each of us represents a part of our home," Al Halabi said.

Al Farra, a 400 metres runner, said he could not wait to get to London and dreamt of standing on the winners' podium. "It's going to be a beautiful feeling to represent Palestine ... like all the other athletes, I dream of winning a medal ... I hope to carry the flag and tell the world that, regardless of all the difficulties, we exist," he told Reuters.

But with a personal best time of 49.04 seconds, almost six seconds slower than Michael Johnson's world record of 43.18, and more than three seconds slower than the Olympic B-standard minimum qualifying time, Al Farra's medal ambitions will remain a fantasy.

His top time was achieved at last year's IAAF World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, where he finished 34th out of 37 starters.

Al Farra's coach, 48-year-old Majid Abu Maraheel, who was the first Palestinian Olympian in Atlanta, where he ran in the 10,000 metres, said Al Farra would be a source of pride for his countrymen, but that it was time to aspire to more meaningful achievements. "We want to improve records, but to do that we need of all the help we can get."

Abu Maraheel treasures the trainers he wore in Atlanta and says he rescued them along with other trophies and mementos when his home was hit during Israel's war on Gaza three years ago. "The house was hit ... and we escaped, but I made sure I took the shoes with me," he said.

Al Farra needs $12,000 (Dh44,067) to finance his training and special diet in the final six-month build-up period to London but he has not seen a penny of funding, said Abu Maraheel.

Funding hurdle

"Ideally, if we want to improve results we need to fund a two-year preparation plan to an Olympics or any major competition, but we don't have a proper budget, we don't have a track or other vital facilities. We are trying to achieve something out of nothing," he said.

Al Farra said he realised the importance of what he was doing for his local community. "In my neighbourhood people know how important it is for one of their own to take part in such a competition and they are happy for me," he said.

Best performance

Nader Al Masri competed in the men's 5,000-metre race in 2008, finishing 38th overall. While he did not advance to the final, his result was the best achieved by a Palestinian athlete in the competition