Palestinian Paralympic Team praised in London

The athletes, their coaches, and chairman of the Palestinian Paralympic Committee MP Jeremy Corbyn and Manuel Hassassian, Palestinian Territories’ diplomatic representative to the United Kingdom, welcomed on Monday the Palestinian Paralympic team at Portcullis House, Westminster. Many journalists and members of the Palestinian and British civil society attended the ceremony.
The two Palestinian athletes Mohammed Fannouna and Khamis Zaqout have overcome a lack of training, equipment and finances in order to qualify for this year’s Paralympics. Their determination and strong efforts were praised by Manuel Hassassian, who opened the ceremony saying "they deserve a medal just for being here today."
Khamis Zaqout, who came fourth in the shot put, discus and javelin final, was paralysed when he fell at a construction site in Israel in 1992. Joking with the audience, he said that he intentionally lost to let his second country, Britain, win the bronze medal. He shared his pride and joy in representing Palestine and conveying a message of peace and reconciliation to Israel and the world.  "We are showing that we exist and that we are one people. West Bank and Gaza are one team here."
Partially-blind Fannouna, who won a bronze medal for his long jump in the Athens Paralympics eight years ago and a gold medal at the Asian Games, is competing on Wednesday in the long jump, 200-meter sprint, and javelin throw.  
The duo trained in Gaza, isolated from their West Bank teammates, who they have the chance to meet for the first time in London.
Akram Okkeh, president of Palestinian Paralympic Committee and based in the Occupied West Bank, described the presence of the Palestinian team in London as a gift to the entire Paralympic Committee, to the Palestinian people and to all the Palestinian martyrs.
Manuel Hassassian concluded the ceremony stating that athletes are the best ambassadors of a country as the message they convey is a message of peace.
As a result of the money raised during the Paralympic Games, 48 wheelchairs have been donated to the Gaza Strip.