The Palestinian Olympic athletes competing in Paris 2024 | BBC News

BBC News

28 Jul 202403:19

Summary

TLDRThe script highlights the struggles of the Palestinian Olympic team amidst the war in Gaza. Despite the International Olympic Committee's recognition since 1995, the team, which includes athletes, trainers, and support staff, has faced immense challenges, including the loss of team members. Tama, an athlete whose home was destroyed and coach killed, continues to train, dreaming of competing with the world's best. Valerie Tarazi, a swimmer from a historic Christian family in Gaza, has made it to Paris for her first Olympics. The team's headquarters in Ramala face numerous obstacles, yet their ambition and willpower remain strong, with the hope of representing their country and inspiring those enduring hardships in Gaza.

Takeaways

🏅 The International Olympic Committee recognized Palestine as a state in 1995.
🔥 Over 9 months of war in Gaza has affected the Olympic aspirations of many Palestinians.
🏃 Tama, a Palestinian athlete, has had to flee his home twice and lost his coach to an airstrike, but continues to train.
🌟 Tama dreams of competing with world-class athletes like the current 1500m world champion.
👟 Tama had never worn spikes for running until a year ago but has already represented Palestine at the Asian Games.
🏊‍♀️ Valerie Tarazi, a Palestinian swimmer, made it to Paris for her first Olympics despite being born in America and having relatives killed in the war.
💪 Valerie emphasizes that her struggles are minor compared to the daily hardships faced by women and children in Gaza.
🤔 The war has created numerous challenges for the Palestinian team, from training to travel.
📍 The team's headquarters are in Ramala in the West Bank, where they face the ongoing tragedy of the war.
🥗 Dalala, the chief nutritionist, highlights the setback caused by the war but also the team's determination and willpower.
🏟️ Gaza's only athletics track is currently a place of refuge and has been unused for training for months.

Q & A

Since when has the International Olympic Committee recognized Palestine as a state?
-The International Olympic Committee has recognized Palestine as a state since 1995.
What challenges did the Palestinian athletes face during the war in Gaza?
-The Palestinian athletes faced numerous challenges, including the loss of team members, destruction of their homes, and the inability to train due to the war.
How has the war impacted the aspirations of some Palestinians to represent their people in sports?
-The war has thwarted the ambitions of some Palestinians who dreamt of representing their people, as it has led to the death of athletes, trainers, and support staff.
What is the significance of Tama's Olympic Village routine despite the destruction of his home and the death of his coach?
-Tama's routine in the Olympic Village signifies his resilience and determination to keep his dreams alive and continue training despite the personal losses and hardships caused by the war.
Who is Yob inab Britson, and why was Tama inspired by him?
-Yob inab Britson is the current world champion in the 1500 M. Tama was inspired by him and wanted to compete alongside him to experience what it's like to be among the world's best athletes.
What is the background of Valerie tarazi, the Palestinian swimmer who made it to Paris for the Olympics?
-Valerie tarazi is a Palestinian swimmer born and raised in America, coming from one of the oldest Christian families in Gaza. She is part of the large Palestinian diaspora.
How has the war personally affected Valerie tarazi?
-The war has affected Valerie tarazi on a personal level as four of her relatives were killed early in the conflict.
What does Valerie believe about her struggle compared to the struggles faced by people in Gaza?
-Valerie believes that her struggle is nothing compared to what the women and children in Gaza face every day, as they deal with life-threatening situations and scarcity of basic needs.
Where are the team's headquarters located, and what is the role of Dalala?
-The team's headquarters are located in the West Bank, in the city of Ramala. Dalala is the chief nutritionist, responsible for training, travel, and dealing with the challenges posed by the war.
How has the war impacted the team's ambition, plan, and willpower according to Dalala?
-According to Dalala, the war has been a setback, but it has not affected the team's ambition, plan, and willpower. Instead, it has made them more determined.
What is the current state of the only Athletics track in Gaza, and how does it reflect the impact of the war?
-The only Athletics track in Gaza is a war-ravaged place of refuge, and it has been months since anyone trained there, reflecting the severe impact of the war on sports and daily life.

Outlines

00:00

🏅 Palestinian Olympic Aspirations Amidst War

The International Olympic Committee's recognition of Palestine since 1995 is highlighted in this paragraph, which also discusses the challenges faced by the Palestinian team due to the war in Gaza. The team sent to the Paris games is one of the smallest, with members acknowledging the loss of friends, trainers, and athletes due to the conflict. The narrative focuses on Tama, a Palestinian athlete whose dreams of competing in Paris were shattered by the war, which also claimed the life of his coach. Despite the hardships, Tama continues to train and represent his country, having participated in the Asian Games in China. The paragraph also introduces Valerie Tarazi, a swimmer of Palestinian descent raised in America, who has qualified for the Paris Olympics. She reflects on the impact of the war on her family and the broader Palestinian community, emphasizing the resilience and determination of the team in the face of adversity.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡International Olympic Committee

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is a non-profit international organization responsible for organizing the modern Olympic Games. It is the governing body that recognizes and supports the participation of various nations, including the state of Palestine since 1995. In the video, the IOC's recognition of Palestine is significant as it highlights the global acknowledgment of the state and its athletes' eligibility to compete in international sports events.

💡Gaza

Gaza is a self-governing Palestinian territory located on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The script mentions the war in Gaza, which has had a profound impact on the lives of its residents, including the athletes and their families. The war has led to the displacement of people, destruction of homes, and the loss of life, significantly affecting the athletes' ability to train and compete.

💡Team Palestine

Team Palestine refers to the group of athletes representing the state of Palestine in international sporting events, including the Olympics. The script describes the team as one of the smallest sent to the games in Paris, indicating the challenges faced by the athletes in their pursuit of Olympic participation amidst the ongoing conflict.

💡War

The term 'war' in the script refers to the prolonged conflict in the region, specifically the war in Gaza that has lasted for over nine months at the time of the report. The war has had devastating effects on the local population, including the loss of life and the disruption of daily life and aspirations, such as the athletes' dreams of representing their people at the Olympics.

💡Athletes

Athletes in this context are individuals who compete in sports at a high level, particularly those representing Palestine in the Olympics. The script highlights the personal struggles and losses experienced by these athletes, such as the death of their coach and the destruction of their homes, which are directly related to the impact of the war.

💡Ambitions

Ambitions in the script refer to the personal goals and aspirations of the athletes to represent their country in international competitions. The war has thwarted these ambitions for some Palestinians, as it has disrupted their training and affected their ability to compete at the highest level.

💡Olympic Village

The Olympic Village is a temporary community built to house athletes and officials during the Olympic Games. In the script, it is mentioned as a place where Tama, one of the athletes, sticks to his routine despite the hardships he has faced, symbolizing the resilience and determination of the athletes.

💡Spikes

Spikes in the context of athletics refer to the specialized shoes worn by runners to improve traction and performance. The script mentions that Tama had never worn spikes until a year ago, indicating his relatively new introduction to competitive running and the challenges he faces in developing his skills.

💡Asian Games

The Asian Games is a multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from countries within the Olympic Council of Asia. Tama is mentioned to have already represented his country twice at the Asian Games in China, showcasing his athletic achievements and international exposure despite the challenges.

💡Diaspora

Diaspora refers to a scattered community of people who have originated from a specific region but now live outside of it. Valerie Tarazi, a swimmer mentioned in the script, comes from one of the oldest Christian families in Gaza but was born and raised in America, representing the large Palestinian diaspora and their connection to their homeland.

💡Chief Nutritionist

A chief nutritionist is a professional who oversees the nutritional aspects of an organization, in this case, the Palestinian Olympic team. The script mentions the challenges faced by the chief nutritionist, including training, travel, and dealing with the tragic consequences of the war, emphasizing the multifaceted difficulties encountered by the team.

💡Setback

A setback in the script refers to a significant problem or disadvantage that has hindered the progress or plans of the Palestinian athletes. Despite the war and its effects, the team's ambition and willpower remain strong, indicating their determination to overcome obstacles and continue pursuing their goals.

💡Athletics Track

An athletics track is a specialized outdoor area designed for track and field events. In the script, the athletics track in Gaza is described as a war-ravaged place of refuge, highlighting the lack of training facilities and the dire conditions under which the athletes must prepare for their competitions.

Highlights

The International Olympic Committee recognized the state of Palestine since 1995.

Palestine sent one of the smallest teams to the games in Paris after more than 9 months of war in Gaza.

Team members know people who have been killed during the war, including athletes, trainers, and support staff.

The war has affected the ambitions of Palestinians who dream of representing their people.

Tama, a Palestinian athlete, sticks to his routine despite his home being destroyed and his coach killed.

Tama had never worn spikes until a year ago but has already represented his country at the Asian Games.

Valerie Tarazi, a swimmer from one of Gaza's oldest Christian families, has made it to Paris for her first Olympics.

Valerie Tarazi is part of the Palestinian diaspora, born and raised in America.

Four of Valerie's relatives were killed early in the war, affecting her emotionally.

The war has created a unique challenge for the Palestinian team, affecting friends, family, and teammates.

The team's headquarters are in Ramala in the West Bank, with Dallala as the chief nutritionist.

Despite the war, the team's ambition, plan, and willpower have not been significantly affected.

The war has presented countless challenges, including training, travel, and dealing with tragedy.

The city's only athletics track in Gaza is a war-ravaged place of refuge, unused for months.

Tama dreams of getting out, getting strong, and running for his country again.

Paul Adams reports from Jerusalem, highlighting the resilience and determination of the Palestinian Olympic team.