Iraqi athletes in Beijing

2008-08-23 14:38:30 GMT2008-08-23 22:38:30 (Beijing Time) China Daily

Dana Hussain Abdulrazak (front) touches a red lantern. [Xinhua]

Dana Hussain Abdulrazak waves goodbye to a camera man in Beijing. [Xinhua]

Dana Hussain Abdulrazak smells a flower in Beijing.[xinhua]

Dana Hussain Abdulrazak stands for photo holding a Chinese knot in Beijing. [Xinhua]

Dana Hussain Abdulrazak stands for photo in Beijing. [Xinhua]

22-year-old Iraqi Dana Hussain Abdulrazak was allowed to the Games only eight days before the opening ceremony.

Due to a lack of funds, she wore a pair of second hand shoes to compete in the Games. In an earlier interview, the runner revealed she had risked her life by crossing a battlefield to reach a market to buy them.

Twice, Dana was nearly shot during her training for the Games. The IOC's previous ban on Iraqi athletes almost crushed the young girl. "I don't even know if I can survive till the London Games," reacted Dana Hussain Abdulrazak when her coach tried to comfort her telling her that she could still participate in the 2012 Games if she couldn't make it to the Beijing Games.

In total, only four Iraqi competitors came to the Games and the rest missed the registration deadline.

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