03:59Palestinian swimmer Valerie Tarazi spoke in an interview in Paris on Monday, describing the opportunity to carry her nation's flag at the Olympics opening ceremony as the 'most special thing in the world'.
"Just being able to hold the flag at a time when it's hard to, whether people want us to be a country or don't recognise us or even just to show the pride and the strength that we have, being here, really it means the world to me," the Palestinian athlete said.
"I am one of the few Palestinians in the world right now who have a voice, and I take every single interview. I get to use my voice. I get to spread my story. I am not here to point fingers; I'm not here to be a politician, but I am here to spread awareness on what is happening," she continued.
Tarazi is one of eight Palestinians competing at the Paris 2024 Olympics and was selected alongside boxer Wasim Abu Sal to be a flag-bearer.
Although Palestine has yet to attain full membership in the United Nations, it was recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1995. Tarazi said support from her compatriots and fellow athletes has motivated her to compete.
"It's hard in the sense that I can't wrap my head around it because we are people just like everyone else, and we have land just like everyone else, but the amount of love and support that I have had really over the last two months, over my entire career, has been incomparable," the swimmer said.
"Even just walking from the dining hall to here I had three or four people stop me and tell me Palestine is in their heart. And this just makes me do it even more. It makes me want to compete, it makes me want to represent, it makes me feel like I am doing the right thing here," she added.
Addressing the fighting in Gaza, Tarazi explained that some members of her family were able to escape the besieged Palestinian enclave before the war, but many of them were unable to leave.
"It's hard to deal with every single day knowing that I am here, I get to do what I love, yes, I am advocating for them, but they're stuck there, and there is nowhere for them to go, there is no safe place. No matter what anybody says, there is no safe place in Gaza right now," she said.
The 2024 Olympic Games will take place in Paris from July 26 to August 11, marking the third time the French capital has hosted the Summer Olympics, following the 1900 and 1924 games.
'Means the world to me' - Swimmer Valerie Tarazi on carrying Palestinian flag at Olympics opening ceremony
Palestinian swimmer Valerie Tarazi spoke in an interview in Paris on Monday, describing the opportunity to carry her nation's flag at the Olympics opening ceremony as the 'most special thing in the world'.
"Just being able to hold the flag at a time when it's hard to, whether people want us to be a country or don't recognise us or even just to show the pride and the strength that we have, being here, really it means the world to me," the Palestinian athlete said.
"I am one of the few Palestinians in the world right now who have a voice, and I take every single interview. I get to use my voice. I get to spread my story. I am not here to point fingers; I'm not here to be a politician, but I am here to spread awareness on what is happening," she continued.
Tarazi is one of eight Palestinians competing at the Paris 2024 Olympics and was selected alongside boxer Wasim Abu Sal to be a flag-bearer.
Although Palestine has yet to attain full membership in the United Nations, it was recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1995. Tarazi said support from her compatriots and fellow athletes has motivated her to compete.
"It's hard in the sense that I can't wrap my head around it because we are people just like everyone else, and we have land just like everyone else, but the amount of love and support that I have had really over the last two months, over my entire career, has been incomparable," the swimmer said.
"Even just walking from the dining hall to here I had three or four people stop me and tell me Palestine is in their heart. And this just makes me do it even more. It makes me want to compete, it makes me want to represent, it makes me feel like I am doing the right thing here," she added.
Addressing the fighting in Gaza, Tarazi explained that some members of her family were able to escape the besieged Palestinian enclave before the war, but many of them were unable to leave.
"It's hard to deal with every single day knowing that I am here, I get to do what I love, yes, I am advocating for them, but they're stuck there, and there is nowhere for them to go, there is no safe place. No matter what anybody says, there is no safe place in Gaza right now," she said.
The 2024 Olympic Games will take place in Paris from July 26 to August 11, marking the third time the French capital has hosted the Summer Olympics, following the 1900 and 1924 games.
Palestinian swimmer Valerie Tarazi spoke in an interview in Paris on Monday, describing the opportunity to carry her nation's flag at the Olympics opening ceremony as the 'most special thing in the world'.
"Just being able to hold the flag at a time when it's hard to, whether people want us to be a country or don't recognise us or even just to show the pride and the strength that we have, being here, really it means the world to me," the Palestinian athlete said.
"I am one of the few Palestinians in the world right now who have a voice, and I take every single interview. I get to use my voice. I get to spread my story. I am not here to point fingers; I'm not here to be a politician, but I am here to spread awareness on what is happening," she continued.
Tarazi is one of eight Palestinians competing at the Paris 2024 Olympics and was selected alongside boxer Wasim Abu Sal to be a flag-bearer.
Although Palestine has yet to attain full membership in the United Nations, it was recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1995. Tarazi said support from her compatriots and fellow athletes has motivated her to compete.
"It's hard in the sense that I can't wrap my head around it because we are people just like everyone else, and we have land just like everyone else, but the amount of love and support that I have had really over the last two months, over my entire career, has been incomparable," the swimmer said.
"Even just walking from the dining hall to here I had three or four people stop me and tell me Palestine is in their heart. And this just makes me do it even more. It makes me want to compete, it makes me want to represent, it makes me feel like I am doing the right thing here," she added.
Addressing the fighting in Gaza, Tarazi explained that some members of her family were able to escape the besieged Palestinian enclave before the war, but many of them were unable to leave.
"It's hard to deal with every single day knowing that I am here, I get to do what I love, yes, I am advocating for them, but they're stuck there, and there is nowhere for them to go, there is no safe place. No matter what anybody says, there is no safe place in Gaza right now," she said.
The 2024 Olympic Games will take place in Paris from July 26 to August 11, marking the third time the French capital has hosted the Summer Olympics, following the 1900 and 1924 games.