The Palestinians heading to Paris to represent their people

Valerie Tarazi, a Palestinian-American swimmer, is filled with pride as she prepares to represent her people at the upcoming Olympics in Paris. While practicing in a swimming pool last week, she reflected on her journey and the moment that inspired her to pursue her Olympic dreams. It was the unforgettable sight of Michael Phelps winning eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 that sparked her ambition. 'That was like my first like, ‘Oh my gosh, I want to be an Olympian,’' she recalled. For countless athletes, the Olympics is the pinnacle of their sporting careers, a dream that many aspire to achieve. However, for Valerie, her participation in the games carries a deeper significance. After enduring more than nine months of war in Gaza, which has resulted in the tragic loss of tens of thousands of Palestinian lives, she views her presence at the Olympics as a way to honor those who have suffered. 'It’s me honouring them,' she stated. Valerie, who is set to compete in the 200-meter individual medley next Friday, was born and raised in the United States but has strong ties to her family in Gaza, one of the oldest Christian families in the region. The ongoing violence has taken a toll on her and her fellow athletes, as she shared the heartbreaking news of losing four family members when a church was bombed during intense Israeli airstrikes last December. 'It takes a toll on us,' she expressed, referring to the rising death toll in Gaza, which has now reached nearly 40,000. 'These are our friends, our family, our teammates or national team members. ' The International Olympic Committee has recognized the state of Palestine since 1995, and three-quarters of UN member countries also acknowledge Palestine. However, the United States, Britain, and the host country of this year's games do not recognize it. Despite the challenges she faces in her training and the sacrifices required to compete at this level, Valerie remains acutely aware of her privileged position. 'My little bit of pain is absolutely nothing compared to what they have to go through every single day,' she said, referring to her compatriots back home. One of her fellow athletes, Tamer Qaoud, has not been as fortunate. Tamer had dreams of making it to the Olympics, but he has been unable to leave Gaza due to the ongoing conflict. His home has been destroyed, and he and his family have been forced to move twice during the war. They are currently living in a tent in Deir el-Balah, located in the heart of the Gaza Strip. 'My dream was to reach the Olympics,' he told the BBC this week. 'Unfortunately, due to the war and circumstances, we couldn’t leave Gaza. ' Tamer, a 1500-meter runner, has already represented Palestine in two competitions. Just a year ago, he experienced running on a proper track for the first time at the Arab Games in Algiers, and he was excited to compete alongside Valerie at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. However, when the war broke out in early October, he had to return home. Tamer's best time is not close to the Olympic qualifying mark, and any chance he had of competing in Paris, even as a wild card, quickly disappeared. 'I wanted to compete with the world's best athletes, like Jakob,' he said, referring to the current men's 1500 world champion, Jakob Ingebrigtsen. 'I wanted to run alongside him, to feel what it's like to compete with the world's best. ' Despite the difficult conditions he faces, Tamer continues to train in the midst of the tents, dust, and date palms of Deir el-Balah, wearing his white Palestinian uniform while being watched by small groups of curious children. His former training ground, Yarmouk Stadium in Gaza City, has become a wasteland filled with rubbish and displaced families seeking shelter. Tragically, Tamer's coach, Bilal Abu Samaan, was killed in an Israeli airstrike last December, and it is estimated that 182 athletes and sports officials have lost their lives since the conflict escalated last October, according to the Palestinian Football Association. Tamer understands that his time to shine has not yet come, and unless he can escape Gaza, he fears it may never arrive. 'The war destroyed everything, shattering our dreams,' he lamented. 'I hope to leave Gaza, join a training camp, regain my old strength, and come back stronger than before. ' Meanwhile, back in the pool in Paris, another Palestinian swimmer, Yazan al-Bawwab, expressed his pride in being an ambassador for a place where simply playing sports is a challenge. 'We don’t have a pool in Palestine,' he said, highlighting the lack of infrastructure for athletes. Like Valerie, Yazan was born and raised abroad, but he wears his uniform and identity with fierce pride. 'France does not recognize Palestine as a country,' Yazan stated defiantly, emphasizing his commitment to raising the flag for his people.