Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Palestinian female Olympian: 'Miracles do happen'
CNN ^ | May 17, 2012 | Matthew Chance and Caroline Cheese

Posted on 06/05/2012 4:44:33 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican

(CNN) -- Woroud Sawalha knows she won't win a medal at the London Olympics. She isn't likely to get beyond the first round of the 800 meters.

But for the 20-year-old and her three teammates, just competing under the Palestinian flag is a source of pride.

The appearance itself is controversial: the U.N. does not recognize a Palestinian state but athletes have been allowed to compete under a Palestinian flag by the International Olympic Committee and soccer's ruling body FIFA since 1996 and 1998 respectively.

"It means a lot for me that I am female and representing Palestine," she told CNN's Aiming For Gold. "I will represent my hometown Asira ash-Shamaliya, Palestine and my university."

Asira ash-Shamaliya is a village of fewer than 10,000 inhabitants in the northern West Bank, where protests and tear gas form part of everyday life in a region still fighting for independence from Israel after two decades of struggle.

Sawalha, who will be immediately recognizable by her black headscarf, long-sleeved top and long trousers, knows that when she steps up to the line in London, she won't just be representing herself.

(Excerpt) Read more at edition.cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Israel; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 57states; israel; mediawingofthednc; mymuslimfaith; partisanmediashills; waronterror
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-26 last
To: MinorityRepublican

What an idiot.

Who’s the man alongside?


21 posted on 06/05/2012 8:56:52 PM PDT by onedoug
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

I understand she has explosive speed out of the starting blocks.


22 posted on 06/05/2012 8:57:43 PM PDT by JewishRighter (Anybody but Hussein)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #23 Removed by Moderator

To: muir_redwoods

Pali events: Stone throwing, firebomb tossing, target shooting at strollers from balconies (Hadassa Tehiya), the speeding car windshield toss (Palmers), and window vaulting (Fogels).


24 posted on 06/05/2012 10:58:09 PM PDT by Eleutheria5 (End the occupation. Annex today.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Yehuda

A definite “Allahu fubar”!


25 posted on 06/06/2012 1:27:50 PM PDT by sheik yerbouty ( Make America and the world a jihad free zone!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

Comment #26 Removed by Moderator


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-26 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson