Palestinian female Olympian: 'Miracles do happen'

CNN ^ | May 17, 2012 | Matthew Chance and Caroline Cheese

[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.

[onedoug]

What an idiot.

Who’s the man alongside?

[JewishRighter]

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

[Eleutheria5]

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

[sheik yerbouty]

A definite “Allahu fubar”!