Palestine at the
1996 Summer Olympics
Flag of Palestine
IOC codePLE
NOCPalestine Olympic Committee
Websitewww.poc.ps (in Arabic)
in Atlanta, United States
19 July 1996 (1996-07-19) – 4 August 1996 (1996-08-04)
Competitors1 in 1 sport
Flag bearer Majed Abu Maraheel
Medals
Gold
0
Silver
0
Bronze
0
Total
0
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)

Palestine, represented by the Palestine Olympic Committee, participated in the Olympic Games for the first time at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States. The Palestinian delegation at the 1996 Games included only one athlete, Majed Abu Maraheel, who competed in the men's 10,000 metres event. He finished last in his heat and did not advance to the finals. Majed was also the flag bearer during the parade of nations of the opening ceremony.

Background

The Palestinian territories are the two regions of the former British Mandate for Palestine that have been occupied by Israel since the Six-Day War of 1967. The Palestine Olympic Committee has been recognized by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) since 1986, and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) since 1995. The decision was protested by Israel, who was refused membership to the same committee in 1982. The president of the Olympic Committee of Israel called it political propaganda and vowed to protest the decision to the International Olympic Committee.[1][2] The 1996 Summer Olympics were held from 19 July to 4 August 1996. For the 1996 Summer Olympics, Palestine sent a delegation of one athlete. Long-distance runner Majed Abu Maraheel competed in the men's 10,000 metres event. As he was the only athlete in the Palestinian delegation, he became the flagbearer for Palestine during the parade of nations of the opening ceremony.[3]

Athletics

Interior view of the Centennial Olympic Stadium during the 1996 Paralympic Games
The Centennial Olympic Stadium where the athletics events took place.

Palestine was represented by one athlete at the 1996 Summer Olympics. 33 year old Majed Abu Maraheel represented Palestine at their Olympic debut.[4] He competed in the men's 10,000 metres event on 26 July. Majed competed in the first heat with 24 other athletes. He finished last out of 21 athletes that finished the race.[lower-alpha 1] He recorded a time of 34 minutes and 40.50 seconds. Colombia's Herder Vázquez placed ahead of him with a time of 33 minutes and 26.15 seconds, in a heat led by Ethiopia's Worku Bikila who posted a time of 27 minutes and 50.57 seconds, 6 minutes and 49.93 seconds seconds quicker than Majed's time. Out of 48 athletes, Majed ranked last out of 42 athletes that finished.[lower-alpha 2] He was over 6 minutes behind the slowest athlete that progressed to the finals. He did not progress to the later rounds.[5]

Key
  • Note – Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only
  • Q = Qualified for the next round
  • q = Qualified for the next round as a fastest loser or, in field events, by position without achieving the qualifying target
  • NR = National record
  • N/A = Round not applicable for the event
  • Bye = Athlete not required to compete in round
Men
Athlete Event Heat Final
Result Rank Result Rank
Majed Abu Maraheel 10,000 metres 34:40.5 21 Did not advance

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ One athlete, Larbi Zéroual, did not finish. Two athletes, Yasuyuki Watanabe and Julian Paynter, did not start.
  2. ↑ Four athletes, Larbi Zéroual, Abdellah Béhar, Paulo Guerra and Todd Williams, did not finish. Two athletes, Yasuyuki Watanabe and Julian Paynter, did not start.

References

  1. ↑ Randy Harvey (30 September 1986). "Israel Denounces Admission of PLO to Asian Olympic Panel". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 31 January 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  2. ↑ "Palestine". International Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on 27 November 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  3. ↑ "Olympedia – Flagbearers for 1996 Summer Olympics". www.olympedia.org. Archived from the original on 5 October 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  4. ↑ "Olympedia – Majed Abu Maraheel". www.olympedia.org. Archived from the original on 9 March 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  5. ↑ "Olympedia – 10,000 metres, Men". www.olympedia.org. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
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