By Trendy Chapter
PARIS (Reuters) – Palestinian swimmer Yazan Al Bawwab’s Olympic race may have lasted less than a minute, but his presence in the water was a powerful statement.
He proudly said that he has a Palestinian flag on his chest, and to realize that they are playing for a country that doesn’t even have basic necessities like swimming pools, food and water.
“France does not recognise Palestine. Yet here I am with a flag on my chest,” Al Bawwab said after finishing third in a 100 metres backstroke heat, his first and last swim of the Paris Games.
“I’m very, very happy … to raise my flag, to have time just for Palestine, a lane just for Palestine. I think this is my message of peace. We’re trying to get the world to know that we’re human beings. I can play sports like everybody else,” he told reporters.
In May France said it was not ready to formally recognise a Palestinian state; French officials repeated that any move they made to recognise a Palestinian state must be serious and not simply a diplomatic gesture.
Local health authorities report that more than 39,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli offensive in Gaza. Israel launched its military action in response to a Hamas-led attack in southern Israel in October, which resulted in the deaths of about 1,200 people and the taking of 250 hostages, according to Israeli reports.
Al Bawwab did not encounter the only Israeli swimmer in the 100 backstroke as they competed in different heats.
Born in Saudi Arabia, educated in Canada and Britain, and living in Dubai where he runs a furniture business, Al Bawwab is an aerospace engineer with a diverse background. His father was a homeless refugee in Italy before rebuilding his life.
“I look at people like my dad who came from nothing,” he said. “I’m never complaining in the pool. I remember people in Gaza, people in Palestine that suffer properly. I don’t mind waking up at 5 am. It’s not a problem.”
Al Bawwab, a twice Olympian, spoke of the challenges faced by Palestinian athletes.
“A lot of people don’t want us to be here. They don’t want to see the flag or hear my country’s name,” he said. “My existence is unwelcome to them. They want me to leave. But I’m here.”
He mentioned that some people had shown hostility to the six-strong Palestine team at other competitions, telling them to “take off your flag, take off your shirt. We don’t want to see Palestine on it.”
Al Bawwab also shared personal losses, including an Asian Games roommate and a team coach killed in Gaza. A young fan who sent a message of support was also dead. A runner friend had posted photos of himself “bandaged up, trying to eat some rice.”
“I don’t like to comment too much on that. But just know this is the reality of a Palestinian swimmer, a Palestinian athlete. We all have stories,” he said.
He also mentioned Gaza’s 100kg weightlifter Mohammad Hamada, who lost 20 kg due to lack of food and failed to qualify.
“We’re trying to educate people about how to swim and teach … but there’s a war going on,” he said. “What are you supposed to do when there’s a war? You can’t talk to people.”
