A small country little known for its sporting talents, Palestine had to wait until the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996 to fly its flag in an Olympic stadium, despite the creation of its national committee ten years earlier. Since then, there are few, only 25, to have competed with Palestinian colors on their chests. Present in Tokyo and mathematically qualified for Paris, Yazan Al Bawwab is one of these athletes. The swimmer, who is also an aerospace engineer and young leader of the IOC (International Olympic Committee), tries to prepare as best as possible for this important event, despite the war which is shaking his country. Because even if he currently resides in Dubai, the situation remains delicate.
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“One of the big problems at the moment, apart from the fact that those who live in Gaza are risking their lives, is that we have no budget,” explains the backstroke and front crawl specialist. Whether it is to participate in qualifying events or training camps, it is very complicated. But I still want to be in Paris to show our flag and share our message of peace. »
