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Cheering and booing: on Palestine, solidarity and the Tokyo Olympics
The international sporting festival is intensely political for my besieged and occupied nation — a rare moment of recognition and a chance to recognise those that share our struggle and our pain, writes RAMZY BAROUD
Wesam Abu Rmilah of Palestine, top, and Dominic Ressel of Germany compete during the men -81kg elimination round of the judo match at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan

WHEN the Palestinian Olympic delegation of five athletes — adorned in traditional Palestinian attire and carrying the Palestinian flag — crossed into the Tokyo’s Olympic Stadium during the inauguration ceremony on July 23, I was overcome with pride and nostalgia. 

 I grew up watching the Olympics. All of us did. Throughout the month-long international sports event, the Olympics were the main topic of discussion among the refugees in my refugee camp in Gaza, where I was born. 

 

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