Feature-East Timor Athletes Face Obstacles in Olympics Bid

By Tito Belo

DILI, Feb 13 (Reuters) - East Timor athletes training for the
Olympics face obstacles that range from a lack of cash to buy even
basic equipment to sporadic gang violence and fears of chaos
following an assassination attempt against President Jose Ramos-Horta.

East Timor was plunged into a fresh crisis on Monday when rebel
gunmen shot Ramos-Horta, a 1996 Nobel Peace Prize winner, and riddled
Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao's car with bullets. Ramos-Horta is in
serious condition in an Australian hospital, while Gusmao narrowly
escaped the gunmen's bullets.

The violence may further hamper preparations by marathon runners who
hope to represent Asia's youngest nation at the Olympics in August.

East Timor runners training for the Games have already discovered
that the road to Beijing is paved with obstacles.

"Based on our programme, training should be done every day but
sporadic incidents like gangs throwing rocks on the street makes us
afraid," said Antonio Soares Xavier, who was conducting a training
session with athletes in the capital Dili.

Factional bloodshed two years ago killed 37 people and drove 150,000
from their homes, with foreign troops needed to restore order and
setting back development in what was already one of the world's
poorest nations.

A new state of emergency declared after the shooting of Ramos-Horta,
gang violence, vandalism and arson still persist. An unemployment
rate estimated at about 50 percent has helped fan a gang culture
among bored youths.

Trainer Xavier said that 42 athletes, some of whom are living in
camps for displaced people dotted around the capital after their
houses were torched, were trying to train for events ranging from 100
metres to the marathon.

He conceded that it was a tough job.

"We haven't got the funds for athletes' needs such as training kit,
food and training centres."

Despite the difficult circumstances, he paid tribute to the
commitment of the athletes.

"I think some of our athletes are ready to compete in any
competition, they are ready physically and in terms of discipline."

SPONSOR ATHLETES

East Timor voted in 1999 to break away from more than 23 years of
Indonesian rule in a violence-marred referendum.

The nation of about 1 million people became fully independent in 2002
after a period of U.N. administration but regular bouts of violence
have since revealed the fragility of the new institutions.

The president of the country's National Olympics Committee said that
East Timor had been given special dispensation to send several
athletes despite not reaching the qualifying bar.

"We are not participating because of merit or our athletes qualifying
but the Olympic movement wants to help nations which have not met the
minimum standard like East Timor and Samoa to participate," said Joao
Carascalao, adding that the nation faced formidable obstacles to
raise standards.

"Athletes are not prepared well, the athletics' federation is not
functioning and the trainer is not qualified. We will not make
progress in sport if we do not change our habits."

Some athletes from the former Portuguese colony recently left to
train in Thailand, Portugal and Macau before final selection, helped
by Olympic money.

Carascalao urged the private sector and government to help
cash-strapped athletes.

"We haven't the money so the government and private sector should
sponsor East Timor athletes participating in the Olympic Games," he said.

AGEING STADIUM

"We are not just preparing athletes but also preparing sports
infrastructure, we really need the government to help build sports
facilities in East Timor," said Carascalao.

He said that Olympic money was also helping to rehabilitate the
ageing Indonesian-built stadium in Dili.

Last year, East Timor's soccer side had to play a World Cup
qualifying match against Hong Kong in Bali because the stadium did
not meet international standards.

Marathon athlete Aguida Fatima Amaral, 38, who works as a civil
servant, said she was waiting to see if she was picked to compete in Beijing.

"If I do not qualify it will give a chance to the new generation to
represent East Timor," said Amaral while training with other athletes
in Tasi-Tolu Comoro, west of Dili.

Amaral made an emotional debut in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney under
an Olympic flag. She managed 43rd place in the marathon.

But she went on to represent her nation in the Athens Olympics and
also took part in the Asian Games and in the Arafura Games in Darwin,
Australia.

She also helped found the Laulara sports club to develop athletics in
East Timor.

Another less experienced athlete, Silvina da Conciecao, said she had
been training intensively for six months.

"I hope I will win medals at the Olympic games if I am selected,"
said the 22-year-old.

National selection for Beijing is expected to take place in mid-March.

(Writing by Ed Davies; editing by Megan Goldin)

------------------------------------------

Joyo Indonesia News Service

==== ========= ==== =======