The Iraqi refugee residing in Austria, Aker Al-Obaidi, 22, has fulfilled his dream of participating in the Tokyo Olympics as part of the international refugee team, and is preparing to compete in Greco-Roman wrestling matches (67 kg).
In addition to Al-Obeidi, who was forced to leave Mosul in northern Iraq in 2014 due to the tragic conditions in his city, as a result of the battles taking place at the time between Iraqi forces and the Islamic State, the international refugee team participating in the Olympics this year includes 29 athletes, from 11 countries who live and train in 13 host countries, With the aim of solidarity and drawing attention to the fate of 80 million refugees around the world, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Al-Obaidi aspires to complete his sports career in wrestling (World Amateur Wrestling Federation)
tough competition
Al-Obaidi says that he entered the world of wrestling since his childhood when he was in Iraq, but he developed his skills in European camps, and today he is preparing to participate in the Tokyo Olympics as part of the international refugee team.
Speaking to Al Jazeera Net, Al-Obaidi expresses his ambition to complete his sports career in wrestling, and is preparing to do his best to achieve distinguished results in these fights that will not be easy, because his opponents are world champions and have more experience, but he is confident in himself and seeks to provide a distinguished performance during the tournament. .
Al-Obaidi notes that sports have wins and losses, so whoever achieves good results in this tournament will be the champion, stressing that his goal in participating is to give a positive image of refugees through playing sports and winning medals.
Al-Karkhi: Al-Obaidi's achievements aroused the interest of the Austrian people and the Arabs residing there (Al-Jazeera)
Remarkable successes
For his part, Iraqi lawyer Qais al-Karkhi - a legal employee of an Austrian company in Vienna - explains that the story of "Aker", who arrived in Austria as an only child, quickly integrated into Austrian society and achieved remarkable achievements, aroused the interest of the Austrian people and the Arabs inside and outside Austria.
Speaking to Al-Jazeera Net, Al-Karkhi encouraged all refugees in Austria to imitate Aker and his successes, as well as the successes achieved by other refugees, because this reflects a positive image of the Arabs in Austria and the European Union in general.
Al-Karkhi points out that "Aker" is one of the other refugees who have made achievements and left fingerprints in various fields in Austria, whether in the Olympics, the labor market, study or volunteer work, pointing out that these successes achieved by Al-Obaidi and other refugees resonated widely in the Austrian street.
Narrator: Al-Obaidi's story is an example of many refugees who arrived in Austria and started their new lives (Al-Jazeera)
Challenges and achievements
In turn, the Austrian engineer of Iraqi origin and member of the Parliament of the Vienna province, Omar Al-Rawi, confirms that the story of Al-Obaidi is an example for many refugees who arrived in Austria and started their new lives, either in charitable work or scientific training, or trying to improve their hobbies that they excelled in, and this indicates that A person can be creative in a new environment if he finds the right climate.
The narrator explains to Al-Jazeera Net that when a refugee acquires Austrian citizenship, then participates in the name of the country and earns a medal, this helps to accept refugees. The wrestler "Aker" and his ilk reflect the beautiful and bright face of the refugees and the European and Austrian community considers them to be enrichment, because they have provided something to this country after they came to it Unlike some who do actions that discredit the refugees.
On the Iraqi community's support for the wrestler "Aker" in his career, the narrator shows that there is no institution that includes the Iraqi community in Austria to support him, but he enjoys the support of his friends and loved ones who gather around him, because members of the Iraqi community exchange experiences and cooperate in humanitarian cases.
The narrator stresses the importance of integration, and it does not mean fusion and the disappearance of language, customs or traditions, but rather a contribution to this society by being an active, non-involved person, and every refugee invests his field of work in helping others, or has an artistic, scientific or economic performance, and when you make From this mixture in society, this is integration and the secret of success to move forward in a dignified and happy life.
Abdul Hamid: Despite the suffering of Iraqi athletes from the scourge of alienation, they have proven that they are able to achieve (Al-Jazeera)
Iraq's absence
Academic and athlete Dr. Firas Abdel Hamid notes that despite the scourge of alienation Iraqi athletes have suffered, they have proven that they are able to achieve achievement and prove themselves, and the best proof of this is the Iraqi wrestler Al-Obaidi champion.
Speaking to Al Jazeera Net, Abdul Hamid attributes the weak participation of Iraqi teams in the Olympics to several reasons, including what concerns federations and clubs, including the Iraqi Olympic Committee and the Ministry of Sports and Youth in general, and this defect lies in the lack of coaches at a level that qualifies to prepare players to participate in international forums. Like the Olympics or the World Cup.
The sports academic calls for finding a solution that restores Iraq to the Arab and regional sports arena, because the country had a great name in international forums and achieved many numbers and medals.
He called on the Ministry of Sports and Youth, the National Olympic Committee, and all federations to open up to all expatriate players in various sports, whether team or individual, to invest their potential and energies to serve Iraq and raise its name in international forums.
Iraq's first appearance in the Olympic Games dates back to 1948 in the London Games, and weightlifter Abdul Wahed Aziz snatched his first and orphaned medal in the 1960 Rome Games after winning the bronze.