Olympic fever grips Somalis as athletes leave for Beijing

Olympic fever grips Somalis as athletes leave for Beijing
By Abdurrahman Warasmeh
MOGADISHU, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- Despite everything that is happening in their war-torn country, Somalis are proud and united behind the only two athletes who will represent Somalia in the Beijing Olympic Games that will kick off this week in the Chinese capital.
After years of training and preparations, Samiyo Yusuf and Abdinasir Saeed left for Beijing Monday with high hopes just like their compatriots, who said they are doing all they can to watch the Games not only to see Somalia among the community of world nations competing at the Games but see two of their own win gold medals.
At the Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu, people cheered and clapped when they realized that Yusuf, a young woman in her teens, and Saeed, a young man in his early twenties, were the athletes that will raise the country's flag in one of the most important sports events in the world.
Somalia has been in civil conflict for nearly two decades which has claimed the lives of many people and left the country's sports facilities in a mess, but the Somali Olympic Committee, locally known as GOS by its Somali acronym, has been struggling to organize sports events when security permits even in the restive capital, Mogadishu.
They have also with their meager financial resources sent a number of athletes to take part in international sports events. Sports fans and others alike seem to agree the importance of Somalia participating in "One World One Dream" of the coming Beijing Olympics.
"We are really proud that we are not at least off the world sports map and we put our faith, confidence and hope on these young man and woman," Ali, a sports fan who only gave his first name, said enthusiastically at the airport.
"I believe sports can bring our people together as people from around the world are coming together in harmony in china."
Abdulkadir Ibrahim Gaal, President of GOS, was leading the Somali delegation to the Games and was very hopeful that the athletes will be competing to help bring Somalis together in "this turbulent times of our history."
"The main aim of attending any event is not to win medals but the fact that people are brought together in peace and harmony is more important for us at this stage," Gaal told Xinhua at the airport before the delegation left for Beijing.
Many residents in Mogadishu are preparing to watch the Games and are very enthusiastic about it since Somalia is represented at the Games.
For the few who can afford a satellite dish and a digital receiver they will be able to view Free-To-Air channels that will screen the Games, but most people will either watch with their neighbors or follow in on the local FM radios which have been reporting anything about the Olympics for the past months and beyond.
The Olympic fever is starting to grip Somalis just like people all over the world. For many the Games will be more than a escape from the dangerous reality in the country.
"I am sure the Beijing Olympic Games will be the most spectacular, the most beautiful, the best organized that is impossible to miss whatever the situation here (in Mogadishu)," said an ardent sports enthusiast, who refused to give his name.