Refugee from Sudan's civil war wins right to compete in the Olympic marathon as an independent
LONDON (AlertNet) - A marathon runner born in what is now South Sudan has been given last-minute permission to compete in the London Olympics as an independent.
Guor Marial, who fled Sudan during the civil war, will be the first athlete to represent newly independent South Sudan, although officially he will be running under the Olympic flag.
"It's very emotional and it raises high hopes for the young kids especially," Marial, 28, told Reuters after learning of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision.
"It means a lot... and for me it means a lot to glorify the people who died for their freedom and people who lost their lives, including 28 members of my family…
"Their spirit is what allows me to get up every single day and put on my shoes and train to honour them," added Marial who moved to the United States as a refugee 12 years ago.
Marial cannot run under the South Sudan flag as the country has not had time to set up a National Olympic Committee so it cannot send a team. He could not join the U.S. team either as he does not have U.S. citizenship.
The IOC had previously suggested Marial represent Sudan, which agreed he could join its team. But the athlete refused, saying it would be a betrayal of South Sudan, his family and everyone who fought for independence.
South Sudan declared its independence from Sudan a year ago following a 2005 peace agreement that ended decades of civil war. But tensions remain high between the two countries which came close to sliding back into all-out war in April.
PERSONAL BEST
Marial fled Sudan when he was 14 after an attack at his home in which soldiers left him unconscious after smashing his jaw with a rifle.
The athlete, who now lives in Arizona, ran faster than the Olympic qualification time last October, and improved his personal best at a marathon in San Diego, California, in June - finishing in two hours, 12 minutes and 55 seconds.
Marial, who believes he has a chance of finishing among the top 20 runners in the Aug. 12 marathon, said he was delighted to have an opportunity to put his country on the global stage.
"To have someone at the Olympics after one year of independence and ... the whole world will see it. That's amazing," he added.
In 1992, athletes from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Republic of Macedonia competed as independents. In 2000, athletes from East Timor were also allowed to compete under the Olympic flag after the country split from Indonesia.
Click here to see a video interview with Marial.
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