The one-legged Majdi Tatar, 27, who is Palestine's hero of "Nanchaku" and the only para-swimmer, said he hopes to compete in the London Paralympic Games after watching the Beijing Paralympics on TV.

"I hope I could represent my country in the world's Paralympics and be the first disabled Palestinian to carry Palestine flag," he said.

Tatar, who lost his left leg in a traffic accident 18 years ago, said he has followed the Beijing Paralympics because it gives him psychological support and represents a chance to the physically challenged people to showcase their sporting talents.

The on-going 13th Paralympic Games in the Chinese capital of Beijing has attracted more than 4,200 athletes from 148 countries and regions, the largest number in history.

"It's also a great achievement for China to give a hope and morale support to its disabled people," he said.

"I was almost in tears when I watched the lavish ceremony in the Bird's Nest stadium," he said. "One of my dreams is to participate in the Paralympics. I hope it would come true someday."

Tatar never wanted to be an athlete, but after he lost his leg, things have totally changed. "I never thought that I can be an athlete before I lost my leg, but after the accident I decided to make something that healthy people can hardly do," said Tatar.

"I started to receive training of Nanchaku and swimming in a Gaza sport club two years after the accident," he said. "I was so talented and was much better than my other colleagues."

After one year's training, Tatar became the best disabled Nanchaku sportsman in the Arab world and one of the best swimmers in Gaza. he got several gold and silver medals in many Arab sport competitions in swimming, but still he dreams of competing in the Paralympics.

"I'm so proud of my achievements, but unfortunately I never participated in international events because of the financial and political difficulties.

"My only hope is to participate in the Paralympics because this event is mainly organized for disabled athletes. I want to have the honor of representing my country in such a great event."

Khaled Abu Zaher, journalist and critic of Sport Affairs from Gaza, said this Paralympics is almost the best and most organized since the world-wide sport event started in 1948.

"In fact China has proved that this Paralympics is the best ever," he commented. "No country has ever hosted the Paralympics like China."

Like Tatar, there are hundreds of Palestinian para-athletes, but the political conditions and the financial problems block their way to the world's greatest event for the disabled.

However, their will and belief that nothing is impossible may further give them hope to participate with thousands of disabled athletes in the Paralympics.

(Xinhua News Agency September 16, 2008)