Paralympic Dream Over, Iraqi Wakes Up to Old Life

After winning the silver medal in javelin at London's Paralympic Games, Ahmed Naas was disappointed to return to a life of struggle in his hometown in Iraq.

Published

6 months ago

Categories

Sports, World

Topics

Paralympic Games, Middle East & North Africa

People

Ahmed Naas

Places

Iraq

Transcript

SCRIPT: These are the medals of a champion. Hurling his javelin 43.27 metres, Ahmed, who suffers from dwarfism, briefly set a world record at London’s Paralympic Games earlier this year and eventually took home the silver. The achievement was a rare bright spot for Iraq in the Games, so Ahmed was surprised that no one greeted him at the airport when he returned home victorious. SOUNDBITE 1 - Ahmed Naas (man), Paralympic silver medalist (Arabic, 10 sec): "When I came back from London carrying the silver medal I was thinking that I would be a king of sport and my life will change." Despite the medals, little has, in fact, changed. In football crazed Iraq, sport fans pay little attention to other athletes. Ahmed has no money for proper exercise equipment or access to a professional gym, so he still works out on the roof of his family's home in the southern town of Batha. He walks to what he calls a training ground, which is little more than a stretch of dirt between a railway track and a main road. SOUNDBITE 2 - Ahmed Naas (man), Paralympic silver medalist (Arabic, 15 sec): "This is where I train, but a champion shouldn’t have to train at a place like this. It's just a regular place. Its not practical for health or sport." Ahmed is also back at work at his family's grocery stall five days a week, where he scrapes together 15 to 25 dollars a day to share with his three brothers. SOUNDBITE 3 - Ahmed Naas (man), Paralympic silver medalist (Arabic, 18 sec): "I have raised the name of Iraq in the Olympics. And it was a big achievement and prideful for Iraq. But the next day I went back to the same stall with my brothers. Is that right? No, I am a champion. And anyone that's seen me makes fun of me saying, 'Yesterday you were in London and today you are in the stall?' That can't be.'" After the success and ear-splitting cheers in the Olympic Stadium, Ahmed had dreamed of fame in his native Iraq and an opportunity to secure his family's future. But after three days of celebration in his hometown, hard reality kicked in and success was replaced by the usual daily grind. SHOTLIST: BATHA, IRAQ, OCTOBER 22, 2012, SOURCE: AFPTV - CU of Ahmed's medals - VAR of Ahmed Naas showing a friend his medals at his father's house - CU of silver medal Ahmed won at London's Paralympic Games - Pan of Ahmed walking to the roof of his father's house with his son - SOUNDBITE 1: Ahmed Naas (man), Paralympic silver medalist - VAR of Ahmed working out on the roof of his father's house - WS of Ahmed walking with his brother to his training ground carrying his javelin - Pan up of Ahmed measuring distance on the dirt at his traning ground - SOUNDBITE 2: Ahmed Naas (man), Paralympic silver medalist - VAR of Ahmed throwing the javelin in his training ground - VAR of Ahmed selling fruits and vegetables at his family's stall - SOUNDBITE 3: Ahmed Naas (man), Paralympic silver medalist - Pan of people watching Ahmed as he sells fruits and vegetables at his family's stall - VAR of Ahmed with family and friends watching a video on the computer of his performance at the Paralympic Games in London - MS of Ahmed in the video doing cartwheels in celebration after setting a brief world record at the Paralympic Games in London - MS of Ahmed playing with his son