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Summer Games: Mohammad the marathon runner
Athletics and marathon running are not particularly popular sports in Gaza, where boys predominantly play football. The mini-marathon Mohammad took part in - one of 20 governorate-level and Gaza-wide races the Palestine Athletics Federation (PAF) organised under the auspices of UNRWA’s Summer Games - gives children the opportunity to learn something new and develop their budding talent. For the race, the traffic in the streets of Gaza was regulated by members of the local sports club to ensure the safety of the runners. As the 50 participants lined up at the route’s beginning, waiting for the bell to sound, the enthusiasm of the participants was palpable. Prizes were given to the first ten to cross the finishing line. First prize went to Mohammad. Throughout the race, it was clear that Mohammad’s running style was different from that of the other competitors: his speed was maintained so effortlessly that even on the third lap he looked like he could easily run several more.
Mohammad comes from a family of nine. ‘My father is blind and has no job’, he begins. ‘We don’t have any money so I usually haven’t had anything to eat when I come to training. I am the best runner in my school and I have won lots of prizes.’ ‘I am proud of my son. But life in Gaza is hard. Who will support him?’ wonders Mohammad’s father aloud. Talent runs in the family; Mohammad’s brother also likes sports and is a good football player. For Mohammad, running is a way to escape – although only partially – from his reality. ‘I feel happy when I run, but not totally’. When asked to explain, Mohammad clarifies, ‘though I could run forever, I never seem to get too far away’. In fact, Gaza is so small that its length is 10 km shorter than the standard marathon distance (42,195 km). Mohammad’s chances of seeing the world beyond Gaza are far from certain. The PAF, which has trained runners for more than 20 years, including Palestinian athletes taking part in regional and international competitions, want to take youth like Mohammad to competitions abroad. Two main obstacles hinder the aspirations of youth like Mohammad: a shortage of funds, as well as the increasing difficulty associations like the PAF experience in maintaining links with external sporting organisations. It is hard to participate in international running competitions if athletes cannot get out of Gaza because the borders with Israel are closed. All this could change with a little bit of money and plenty of perseverance. Support from external sporting bodies would enable Mohammad and others like him to develop their skills and learn from athletes all over the world. Perhaps then Mohammad would be able to run for as long and as far as he wanted.
Gaza, July 2007 |
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‘One
day I’m going to be a champion’ says Mohammad, 15, matter-of-factly. His
determination is all the more admirable given his circumstances. Had
Mohammad been born in the West he might well have been given ample
opportunity to fulfil his dream; perhaps training in well-equipped
sports grounds, wearing proper running shoes or getting scholarships to
train with world-class coaches. In Gaza, however, he runs in the streets
with a pair of worn-out shoes.
