Arabs hope for Olympic breakthrough
source: http://english.aljazeera.net/focus/beijing08/2008/08/2008811104658338169.html
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Despite less than mediocre performances during past Olympic games, Arab athletes and coaches say they are hoping to make their best showing yet in Beijing.
In nearly 100 years of Olympic competition, the combined tally of medals won by all Arab countries is 73.
At 22 countries, the Arab nations constitute almost 11 per cent of the total number of participating nations (204). However, the average number of medals won - 3.48 medals every four years - has been uninspiring.
In the last Olympic games in Athens, for example, Arab countries won only 10 of the 929 medals available - a little over one per cent.
Shouaa Ghada, a Syrian heptathlete who won a gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta games, told Al Jazeera Sports that she is hopeful that Arabs will be among the medallists this year.
"Algeria is heading in the right path [in terms of preparation]," she said, adding that she expected Sudanese runner Abubaker Kaki to bring a medal home.
Kaki, who became the youngest world indoor winner of the 800-metre final in March 2008, hopes to secure Sudan's first gold medal.
On June 6, 2008 he set a new World Junior record at the Bislett Games Golden League meeting in Oslo, Norway, finishing in 1:42.69.
(End of excerpt)
Full story at link by Nassir Yousef al-Jaber in Doha// Al Jazeera English
In nearly 100 years of Olympic competition, the combined tally of medals won by all Arab countries is 73.
At 22 countries, the Arab nations constitute almost 11 per cent of the total number of participating nations (204). However, the average number of medals won - 3.48 medals every four years - has been uninspiring.
In the last Olympic games in Athens, for example, Arab countries won only 10 of the 929 medals available - a little over one per cent.
Shouaa Ghada, a Syrian heptathlete who won a gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta games, told Al Jazeera Sports that she is hopeful that Arabs will be among the medallists this year.
"Algeria is heading in the right path [in terms of preparation]," she said, adding that she expected Sudanese runner Abubaker Kaki to bring a medal home.
Kaki, who became the youngest world indoor winner of the 800-metre final in March 2008, hopes to secure Sudan's first gold medal.
On June 6, 2008 he set a new World Junior record at the Bislett Games Golden League meeting in Oslo, Norway, finishing in 1:42.69.
(End of excerpt)
Full story at link by Nassir Yousef al-Jaber in Doha// Al Jazeera English
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