Nader al-Masri

Palestine, Track and Field

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Thursday, July 24, 2008; Page E07

Nader al-Masri, a 5,000-meter runner, is one of four athletes who will represent the Palestinian territories in Beijing. Masri comes from the Beit Hanoun refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, a frequent fire zone in battles between Hamas and Israeli troops. Just getting out of Gaza was a triumph for Masri, 28, who had to enlist the help of human rights groups because of Israeli restrictions on who can leave the narrow coastal strip. Eventually, he was allowed to depart in April and has been training at a rock-studded field in the West Bank town of Jericho. His best time -- 14 minutes 24 seconds -- is about a minute slower than the qualifying pace. But the Olympics offer 90 special slots for athletes who wouldn't otherwise qualify. The Palestinian territories, while lacking statehood, have been represented at the Olympics since the 1996 Games in Atlanta.

-- Griff Witte