Despite hardships, Palestinians train for Olympics

Darting down the bumpy streets of Gaza wearing a cheap pair of running shoes, Palestinian athletes Bahaa al-Farra dodges potholes and traffic as he trains to compete against the world's best athletes at the London Olympics.           

Although an Olympic medal is a near impossibility, the 400-meter runner takes to the city streets for about three hours a day, speeding down crowded avenues in the morning before hitting the gym in the afternoon.           

"It's not easy to be an athlete in Gaza," al-Farra said.           

Al-Farra is one of a handful of athletes who will compete under the Palestinian flag at the London Olympics. Although little has changed since Palestinians first participated in the Olympics at the 1996 Atlanta Games, they're now making the long-term investments they hope will bear results in a generation building an Olympic-size swimming pool and asking for foreign aid for four large multipurpose gyms.          

Four Palestinians will be headed to London for the 2012 Games, though none of them has reached Olympic qualifying standards, said Hani al-Halabi of the Palestinian Olympic Committee. Instead, they will be competing by invitation from the International Olympic Committee.                 

Al-Farra's coach, Majed Abu Maraheel, recalled his excitement of waving the Palestinian flag at the 1996 Olympics, just two years after Palestinians won limited self-rule in parts of the West Bank and Gaza, the areas that are to make up Palestine, along with east Jerusalem.             

"It sent a message to the world that the Palestinians also have the right to be in the games," said the 48-year-old Abu Maraheel, who competed in the 10,000 meters and finished 34th. 

AP