Did you know that under certain conditions, it is possible to compete independently in the Olympics? Three athletes came to the Olympics under the Olympic flag, otherwise known as Independent Olympic Athletes.
They come from South Sudan and Netherlands Antilles.
One of them, Guor Marial, is a marathon runner born in South Sudan. Guor fled to the United States from Sudan at the age of eight after 28 members of his family were killed by the Sudanese government. He cannot compete for the newly formed South Sudan as it does not have a National Olympic Committee and is not yet a ratified Olympic state.
He cannot compete for the USA since he doesn't possess an American passport. For obvious reasons, he rejected Sudan's invitation to compete for them. (I wouldn't want anything to do with the government responsible for wiping out so many members of my family.)
The men's marathon will take place on August 12.
Yes - one of "The Lost Boys".
ReplyDeleteI missed watching him compete, sadly, but certainly concurred with his refusal to have anything to do with Sudan.
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