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Teams from different territories in Palestine have represented Palestine in Olympics. The Palestine Olympic Committee represents the teams from different territories. The IOC country code of Palestine is PLE. Palestine has been competing in the summer Olympics since 1996. Palestine has been able to make a mark in swimming in a small way, though the country hasn't been able to bag any medals.
For the first time Palestine joined the Olympic games at the 1996 Summer Olympics which was held in Atlanta in the United States. The country was unable to win any medals, but their participation in the prestigious game was indeed remarkable. Palestine enthusiastically also participated in the 2000 Summer Olympics held in Sydney Australia. Ramy Dieb participated in the finals of men's 20 km walk and secured a 44th place. In 50 m women's freestyle, Samar Nassar, could make it up to the preliminary heat, and did not advance further. However, in the 2004 Summer Olympics held in Athens, Greece, Palestine was represented by Addalsalam Aldabaji in men's 800 meters, Sana Abu Bkheet in women's 800 meter and Rad Obeisant in the men's 100 m butterfly.
Braving all the odds the Olympic athletes of Palestine participated in the 2004 Summer Olympics. Rad Obeisant swam the 100 meter dash in one minute and one second ten seconds behind the gold medal time. The 17 year old swimmer from a east Jerusalem Town got his training in his homemade 25 meter pools. Sana Abeu Bedsheets is the first female Olympic athlete of Palestine. She held from a small Palestine town named AlBalah, which was a site of incessant Israeli attacks and shooting.
The Palestine Olympic athletes have indeed made their country proud, by enthusiastically participating in all the Summer Olympics. The achievements of Palestine in Olympics are small, but remarkable.
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