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19 September 2024

Palestine sends record six athletes to Rio

Palestine's flagbearer Mayada Sayyad leads her delegation during the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 5, 2016. (AFP)

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By AFP

The Palestinians began their Olympic campaign in Rio on Saturday with a record six athletes competing in four disciplines, despite difficulties in getting to the games.

Restrictions on Palestinians leaving the war-torn Gaza Strip delayed the Palestinian team captain's arrival in Rio, said Jibril Rajub, president of the Palestinian Olympic Committee.

Palestine will be competing in the games for the sixth time.

Mayada Sayyad, 23, a marathon runner from Jerusalem who lives in Berlin, carried the Palestinian flag at the Olympic opening ceremony on Friday night at the Maracana stadium in Rio.

Simon Yacoub, 28, is seen as Palestine's best chance for a medal, in the men's under 60 kilos judo.

Swimmer Ahmed Gebrel, 24, will be hoping to improve on his performance at the London 2012 Olympics in the 200 metres freestyle.

Mohammed Abukhoussa, 23, from Gaza, will compete in the men's 100 metres, while swimmer Mary Al Atrash, 22, will compete in the 50 metres women's freestyle.

Christian Zimmermann, 54, a German-born former businessmen with Palestinian citizenship, will compete in the Equestrian Dressage.

Palestine has never won an Olympic medal.

The fifth, Maher Abu Rmeileh from Jerusalem, was the first Palestinian ever to qualify for the Olympics.