Palestinian athlete Fidaa Abuhaj finally made her way to Shanghai for the Special Olympics with her delegation.

 

"My sister got married just one day before I left for Shanghai, but I was busy with the training and did not attend her wedding," Fidaa said. "I will do my best in the games, to bring prizes to her as a wedding gift."

 

The 22-year-old Ramallah girl wore a shy smile on her face, with the brown curl and pure bright eyes adding to her charm.

 

Picked up by the Palestinian Special Olympics a year ago, Fidaa got trained in Tulkaram, 80 kilometers away from her home.

 

"It took four hours for me to reach that place every time, for there are too many checkpoints on the way," said head coach Maroof Shtara, who also dwells in Ramallah.

 

Fidaa joined the training only one year ago and would take the 100m and 200m race in Shanghai.

 

"The situation in Palestine affected the training a lot," head of the delegation Nizar Basalat told the press. "Our Special Olympics movement began in 1995, and we now have 1,500 athletes. However, they had no regular training from 2000 to 2005."

 

"Despite of the difficulties, we took part in the 1999 Terrell Summers Games and the 2003 Dublin Summer Games, and Shanghai is our third station," said Basalat.

 

(Xinhua News Agency October 8, 2007)