War, insecurity and deprivation will not stop Hussein Ali, a Mogadishu resident, to watch the Beijing Olympic Games that is about to kick off in hours time in the Chinese capital and he has termed the Olympics he will watch as "the Games of a lifetime".

"I bought a brand new digital receiver for my old satellite dish to watch the Games in the FTA (Free-To-Air) channel," Ali told Xinhua in Mogadishu, the Somali capital.

"I have already installed the receiver to tune in channel that will screen the Games of lifetime."

Despite the people's other survival priorities in Mogadishu where there are near daily clashes between the insurgents and Somali government forces backed by Ethiopian troops, the residents here are aware that a great event is to unfold in Beijing, the Opening Ceremony for the most important sports event in the world, and they will not miss it out.

"I hope that despite everything that is going on here people cannot ignore that great event where two of our athletes will be taking part," Abdinasir Guled, a sports journalist in Shabelle Radio in Mogadishu, told Xinhua.

Guled said that many people will be watching or listening on the radio the Games in Beijing to see how the two Somali athletes do and wish them every success.

Although many people do not have the digital receivers and dishes which are beyond the reach of most people here, who are struggling to feed themselves, they will be able to watch with their neighbors who have the luxury to buy these gadgets.

Ali says he will be inviting his nieghbours to watch with him because most of them do not have the equipment to receive the Games.

"I know we Somalis are close and friendly with each other and we can share what we have to enjoy the most spectacular event of the Games, that is the opening ceremony," Ali said.

Local radios are airing extended sports programs to cover the Games which Guled says will be carefully followed by Somalis who have two young compatriots representing them at the Games.

Somalia has sent two athletes, Samiyo Yusuf, a young woman in her teens, and Abdinasir saeed, a young man in his early twenties, to the Beijing Olympics. They will be taking part in the 800 meters for women and 5000 meters for men respectively.

"Sports can unite people and I hope the participation of the two Somali young runners will be a symbol of unity for all Somalis where they are," Guled told Xinhua as he prepared to start the the daily sports program on Shabelle Radio.

The Somali delegation, led by President of Somali Olympic committee Abdulkadir Ibrahim Gaal flew from Mogadishu on Monday. Gaal expressed hope that the two athletes will bring victory to their country but added that participation is more important than winning medals at the Games.

(Xinhua News Agency August 8, 2008)