Buuxo Posted July 14, 2008 Athletes from war-torn Somalia going for gold in Beijing Olympics Special report: 2008 Olympic Games Sunday, July 13, 2008 MOGADISHU (Xinhua) - Samiyo Yusuf, a young woman in her early 20s, is training strenuously for the coming Beijing Olympics and has high hopes that she will bring success back to her home country, Somalia, as she is the only female athlete representing the war-torn nation. In one of the dilapidated old sports stadiums in the Somali capital Mogadishu, Yusuf and her fellow runner, Abdinasir Saeed, as the only male athlete, both regularly train in preparation for the Olympics this year to represent Somalia, the Horn of Africa nation that has been in chaos and lawlessness for the most part of the last two decades. "We are hopeful that we will succeed in the events we will take part in Beijing," said Yusuf, who will run in the women's 400 meters and 800 meters. Saeed said he will be participating in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters and expected to "raise" the name of his country which has been "synonymous for war, death and destruction". "I know being the only male athlete representing a whole country carries huge responsibility and there are a lot expected of me and I will try to do my best to raise the name of my country," Saeed told Xinhua as he trained along with Samiya in Stadium Konis in the north of Mogadishu. Somali Olympic Committee, better known by its Somali acronym GOS, has been trying their best to train and select the athletes representing Somalia in Beijing. "For us being part of the Olympic spirit is more important than getting medals. But we are confident that these two young persons will better represent Somalia," Aden Haji Yebarow, GOS First Vice President, told Xinhua at his office in Mogadishu. Yebarow said that the number of athletes representing Somalia is limited not by the ability of their athletes but by lack of funds. "We are sending two athletes to take part in the Beijing Olympics and we are pinning our entire national hopes," said he. Since its creation in 1959, Somalia Olympic Committee has been working to develop sports in Somalia despite the insecurity in the east African country for the past two decades which has destroyed much of the sports facilities. The Chinese-built Mogadishu Olympic Village, the biggest national sports center in Somalia, has been turned into an army base by the Ethiopian troops in Somalia. The stadium has been in a state of disrepair for the nearly two decades of lawlessness in Somalia particularly in the restive Somalia capital. "We have historic ties with China which has built a number of sports facilities in Somalia and have helped train many of our sports coaches and athletes," Wiish said. "But those sports facilities are not being used in the interest of sports in Somalia and are being destroyed on a daily bases in Somalia." Although sports in Somalia has been adversely effected by the continuing civil strife, GOS has managed to sent athletes to attend in the last few Olympic Games and has organized a number of national and regional sports events inside the country. The old Italian-built Konis stadium in the north of the Somalia capital is the only sports ground maintained by GOS and used by the few sports clubs that operate in Mogadishu. However, the participation by the two athletes, Yusuf and Saeed, in next month's Beijing Olympics brings a ray of hope for many Somalia sports fans and continues Somalia's symbolic presence in the world sports stage. "We are going for gold, no less," said Mohamud Addow, coach of the athletes. Source: Xinhua, July 13, 2008 Goodluck to our two athletes. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Buuxo Posted July 14, 2008 We should aim for more athletes in the next olympics.Anyone willing to join me in representing somalia in Handball? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Som@li Posted July 14, 2008 Good luck to them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
N.O.R.F Posted July 14, 2008 Good luck to them. What happened last time? 2004? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Endeavour Posted July 14, 2008 I will be watching but certainly not cheering. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ibtisam Posted July 14, 2008 5,000 and 10,000 :eek: Are they not pushing him a bit too much. Only two other well trained legends are considering doing both in the Beijing heat and pollution. I remember in 2004, I don't if it is the same girl, but the one who run 800 was left so far behind. They are putting these kids under too much pressure and how can they compete at such level with no training or prior competition. I wonder if they achieved the Olympics standard qualifying time? Good luck to them, I'll cheer them on. It would be remarkable if they perform well, but then they will be sold to other nations who can train them and pay them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BOB Posted July 14, 2008 Just another excuse to humiliate Muslim Sisters by making them run around like a headless chicken... Olympics kulahaa...meesha Olympic ma jiree in dumarka la qaawiyo unbaa la rabaa...wax kale meesha kuma hayaan daanyeerta isu tagtay. That was me leaving beind a hefty tip...take it or leave it. Peace, Love & Unity. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
-Serenity- Posted July 14, 2008 You know how reading threads goes.. You like the topic… You read on… You cheer up a bit… Then you come across that ‘ewww’ comment, usually vulgar or highly exaggerated with a huge doze of one or the other –ism (sexism, chauvinism) and you instantly reach for the back button of your browser (if you’re not tempted to spit a few vile lines of your own). Originally posted by *BOB: Just another excuse to humiliate Muslim Sisters by making them run around like a headless chicken... Olympics kulahaa...meesha Olympic ma jiree in dumarka la qaawiyo unbaa la rabaa...wax kale meesha kuma hayaan daanyeerta isu tagtay. Then you feel inexplicably annoyed and return to your work. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Abtigiis Posted July 14, 2008 ^ Tolerance sis. If everyone was to think like you, we wouldn't need this forum. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Faarax-Brawn Posted July 14, 2008 We are hopeful that we will succeed in the events we will take part in Beijing," said Yusuf, who will run in the women's 400 meters and 800 meters Just another excuse to humiliate Muslim Sisters by making them run around like a headless chicken... Speaking of headless chicken(and thereby running like one), Is this chick the same one who ran diagonally in the 04 games? If so,i hope she runs straight this time & oh yeah,Good luck to the athletes. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Buuxo Posted July 14, 2008 Al burco, i think we had two athletes in 2004 olympics and they both came last in their qualifying heats.But the only benefit is jumping the queue and seeking asylum like one of the athletes did in Sydney olympics. LOL Serenity I agree. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MZanzi Posted July 14, 2008 i hope our neighbouring country Somaliland is also representing Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Xaq Posted July 14, 2008 good luck to faarax and xaliimo. they will cheer me up when i see the somali flag in the opening ceremony. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Faarax-Brawn Posted July 14, 2008 Originally posted by Xaq: good luck to faarax and xaliimo. they will cheer me up when i see the somali flag in the opening ceremony. They need more than luck,pal. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chimera Posted July 14, 2008 Good luck to the Brother and sister! keep the spirit alive!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
