Iraqi Athletes Wear Second-Hand Training Shoes.

There is still a war in the rebuilding Iraq, but this does not prevent Iraqi athletes from showing their demeanor on the stage of the Beijing Olympic Games.

"The Iraqi athletes are strong."

Mustafa, chairman of the Olympic Committee of Iraq, commented.

　　一波三折亮相北京奧運會

Dana returned home early, and she also received enthusiastic applause when she left Beijing International Airport.

As the only woman in the 4 Iraqi delegation, Dana took part in the women's 100 meter and 200 meter race. The beautiful girl who was born in 1986 took part in the Athens Olympic Games and the 2007 World Championships. Although the result was not ideal, its performance in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games was still remarkable.

When the strong girl was able to make a breakthrough at the Beijing Olympics, he didn't expect the road to go so hard.

Since the US Army entered Iraq, gunfire has enveloped Iraq. The 21 year old Dana still insists on practicing 100 and 200 meters.

On one occasion, they had to drive through the field of Shiite and Sunni fighting in southern Baghdad in order to attend training camp and go to training grounds.

On that day, Dana passed through the crossfire eight times. One time, Dana thought she was dead, but when she looked up and felt that she could breathe, she felt grateful.

That is, this time, the war really extends to Dana training ground, Baghdad University track and field.

On the same day, snipers near the roof shot Darren.

When the bullet hit the big tree next to him, Dana fell down and brushed away with death.

But 30 minutes later, she returned to the track and field to continue training.

For the Beijing Olympic Games, the Iraqi woman's 100 and 200 meter record holder's wish is to be able to stage on the stage.

But she experienced a rapid change, and the news that "Iraqi athletes will not be able to participate in the Beijing Olympics" once collapsed her.

She cried all those days, crying for the cruel reality.

But what she did not expect was that after several days' efforts, the Iraqi delegation could take part in the Beijing Olympic Games. This time, Dana cried again. This time it was a joyful tear. Dana and the Iraqi men's discus player, Nasser, became the first athlete to benefit, because the IAAF did not close the door for athletes to register for the Beijing Olympic Games.

　　相對于戰火，

The difficulty of equipment is nothing.

At the opening ceremony, when the Iraqi delegation appeared, there was a warm applause on the scene, which was very similar to the Athens Olympic Games.

Four years ago, the Iraqi delegation participated in the Olympic Games in the war. Their expectation is to raise the Iraqi flag at the Athens Olympic Games.

On that occasion, Dana also took part in the competition. Although he did not win medals, he could be very happy to compete with the world's strong players.

Four years later, the rebuilt Iraq still had war. Dana did not know if he could wait until the London Olympic Games.

In the group competition of Beijing Olympic Games, confident Dana was eliminated.

But Dana and two other Iraqi players quickly became a focus. Dana was wearing second-hand shoes for training in the pictures posted everywhere.

In fact, the difficulty of equipment is nothing compared to the war.

"The Iraqi athletes are strong."

Mustafa, chairman of the Iraqi Olympic Committee, said before the first financial daily.

At that time, the Iraqi football team just won the Asian Cup championship, but the champion team had to wear their old clothes in training because of no sponsorship. The football team wearing the broken shoes and different brand sportswear made Chinese fans feel filled with emotion.

Because of this victory, the Iraqi Olympic Committee delegation attracted the attention of its telecom mobile enterprises, and also attracted the attention of Chinese enterprises.

"Actually, our participation in the Olympic Games is to show the spirit and style of our nation."

Mustafa's words are both proud and helpless.

Compared with other delegations, the cost of sponsorship by the Iraqi delegation is limited, and Dana's early departure is also due to tight funding.