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CNN Sunday Morning
Olympic Dreams
Aired January 11, 2004 - 07:35 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KRIS OSBORN, CNN ANCHOR: Speaking of the Olympics, they were meant to bring the world closer together through sport. And for one teenager, the Olympics has become a driving force to overcome hardship and focus on a very important goal.
Our John Vause reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Making the Olympics isn't meant to be easy. But for some, it is harder, much harder than others.
Raad Awisat spends four hours a day, every day training in this twin sized meter pool. There's just three lanes, the water is cold, the plastic sheeting keeps in some warmth. It also traps the fumes from the chlorine.
He's aiming for the semi-finals in the 100 meter butterfly, but even in the pool, there is politics.
RAAD AWISAT, OLYMPIC HOPEFUL: (through translator) I would also like to represent Palestine, to explain the problems what we are going through, how Palestinian swimmers, the people feel, what they are doing, our achievements.
VAUSE: Three years ago, before the start of the intifadah, Raad trained at the YMCA in West Jerusalem. But then, because he was Palestinian, he was given two choices. Either join the Israeli swim team or pay to use the pool.
(on camera): So Raad and his father went to the people of his village for help. And help, they did. They built him a pool. And no, they didn't raise money and pay some contractor to do it. In about a week, 40 volunteers extended pool from 17 meters to 25 meters, literally by hand, stone by stone, brick by brick.
(voice-over): They have no permit. The pool is hidden under someone's house. Raad's father is also his coach.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's very hard to be a good swimmer at the high level with these facilities, with this pool, but that's a problem. No choice.
VAUSE: No problem, no choice, he said. It has been like that for years. Just the two of them. And it will be that way in Athens. The international Olympic Committee grants one swimming place for the Palestinians and Raad is their best swimmer.
AWISAT: If I can win a good place, I will remember where I came from.
VAUSE: In the coming months, Raad's dream of representing his country will soon come true, even though it is a country which still doesn't exist.
John Vause, CNN, East Jerusalem.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired January 11, 2004 - 07:35 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KRIS OSBORN, CNN ANCHOR: Speaking of the Olympics, they were meant to bring the world closer together through sport. And for one teenager, the Olympics has become a driving force to overcome hardship and focus on a very important goal.
Our John Vause reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Making the Olympics isn't meant to be easy. But for some, it is harder, much harder than others.
Raad Awisat spends four hours a day, every day training in this twin sized meter pool. There's just three lanes, the water is cold, the plastic sheeting keeps in some warmth. It also traps the fumes from the chlorine.
He's aiming for the semi-finals in the 100 meter butterfly, but even in the pool, there is politics.
RAAD AWISAT, OLYMPIC HOPEFUL: (through translator) I would also like to represent Palestine, to explain the problems what we are going through, how Palestinian swimmers, the people feel, what they are doing, our achievements.
VAUSE: Three years ago, before the start of the intifadah, Raad trained at the YMCA in West Jerusalem. But then, because he was Palestinian, he was given two choices. Either join the Israeli swim team or pay to use the pool.
(on camera): So Raad and his father went to the people of his village for help. And help, they did. They built him a pool. And no, they didn't raise money and pay some contractor to do it. In about a week, 40 volunteers extended pool from 17 meters to 25 meters, literally by hand, stone by stone, brick by brick.
(voice-over): They have no permit. The pool is hidden under someone's house. Raad's father is also his coach.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's very hard to be a good swimmer at the high level with these facilities, with this pool, but that's a problem. No choice.
VAUSE: No problem, no choice, he said. It has been like that for years. Just the two of them. And it will be that way in Athens. The international Olympic Committee grants one swimming place for the Palestinians and Raad is their best swimmer.
AWISAT: If I can win a good place, I will remember where I came from.
VAUSE: In the coming months, Raad's dream of representing his country will soon come true, even though it is a country which still doesn't exist.
John Vause, CNN, East Jerusalem.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
