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| Iraqi Archer: Ali Adnan trained in Baghdad last week for the Olympics Games in Beijing. Sam Dagher |
Iraqi Olympians dodge violence and politics on the path to Beijing
A sprinter and an archer – two of the four Iraqis who have qualified so far – struggle to train amid sectarian divides and a dearth of equipment.
from the April 7, 2008 edition
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"Dana defeated death," her coach says admiringly. "She's a winner."
Olympic archer
In another part of the city at a modest club next to Mustansiriyah University, Ali Adnan lifts his bow and begins to shoot arrows at a makeshift target board made of dried palm branches.
"I cannot believe I qualified," says Mr. Adnan, a member of Iraq's professional archery team."I am filled with ambition, determination, and desire to train more and more."
He won two silvers and one gold medal at the Cairo games last fall and credits his mother's persistent prayers and the relentless support of Jaber, the committee's deputy chief who was just killed.
"He nurtured us and got us new equipment. I will miss him sorely," says Adnan.
The young archer also must contend with his own tribulations. In 2006, he and his brother were attacked near their home in the neighborhood of Ameriyah by militants linked to Al Qaeda. His brother was badly wounded and the family had to flee to Syria. They came back last November, when the area was sealed by the US military with giant concrete walls and security responsibilities were handed over to the Rebels of Ameriyah – one of the numerous US-funded Sunni Arab militias made up of former insurgents and militants.
But dangers still lurk, Adnan says, describing how eight members of this same militia were arrested last week for moonlighting as a kidnap and extortion gang.
On most days, he just practices in his backyard because of the difficulties of going in and out of Ameriyah.
Adnan says the tense situation at home, combined with a lack of facilities in Iraq, is forcing him to travel to South Korea soon to train.
"I am living now for Beijing. God willing, I will clinch the medal," he says with a big smile. "Iraq needs to win and be joyous. Even the Islamic State in Ameriyah was happy when we won in soccer."
In a rare moment of national unity, Iraqis rallied around their soccer team last July when it won the Asian Cup for the first time ever.
In an effort to keep this spirit alive, a pro-government television segment running often these days shows a group of masked gunmen storming a soccer field and taking on the team. A grenade replaces the ball.
The team's star goalkeeper, Noor Sabri, shoots the grenade out of the field, and it explodes in the air. The scoreboard then flashes: "Iraq: 1; Terror: 0."
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