The (not so) Daily Me: "Part tragedy, Part comedy"

Well, it seems that a certain Iraqi is vying to be the first from his country to qualify for the Winter Olympics. It's hilarious (bugmenot.com; "bill7000@msn.com" "bill"):

Faisal Faisal's Olympic dream appears to be just that -- a goal far out of reach, almost entirely unrealistic.

Don't you love his name? "Faisal Faisal" Nothing like making sure you get the point across, just do it twice. Can't you hear the crowds screaming: "Go Faisal, Faisal, Faisal, Faisal, Faisal...." At least it keeps it simple! =)

In 2006, he wants to become the first Iraqi athlete to compete in the Winter Olympics, but he can hardly describe the sport, skeleton, in which he hopes to qualify. It's fast and fun and it happens on ice, Faisal said. And in part thanks to the U.S. Olympic Committee, he's been hurtling down an icy track in Lake Placid, N.Y., for two weeks. He's successfully completed, he said proudly, 21 skeleton runs.

Let's just say that with him being the only Iraqi Winter Olympian, Iraq is sending a *snicker, snicker* skeleton crew....

Since he vowed in 1998 to one day represent his country in the Olympics, Faisal has tried five sports. He's suffered two panic attacks and a sleep disorder during a quest that, so far, has been part tragedy, part comedy.

A very tough determined guy who is trying very hard. He is a bright beacon of hope in that nation that has very little to have hope about right now. The articles goes on:

training with top-level coaches...U.S. Olympic athletes...hopes...compete...The USOC is heavily promoting Faisal's visit as a triumph of Olympic solidarity, one that could give Iraq a heartwarming story to parallel that of the country's soccer team in the 2004 Games in Athens.

I kind of condensed, but you get the idea. This is the kind of guy that Iraq needs in it's future and lots more like him. This is what Bush's dream of Democracy is all about. But then, the article descends back into the comedy of this guy from the desert competing in the Winter Olympics.

Not even the sport is important. Faisal left Iraq at 17 to study in Australia, where he quickly picked up skiing. During weekends off from school, he would travel seven hours by bus to a ski resort. With little concept of snow and no instruction, Faisal suffered a panic attack and eventually gave up the sport.

He tried snowboarding, which sometimes scared him so thoroughly he struggled to sleep. He tried to become a speedskater, then learned that he would not be eligible for the Olympics because Iraq did not have a single ice rink.

In September 2004, he considered ski jumping until a prospective coach looked at him and, perhaps picturing a man from the desert flying through the air and landing in snow, literally laughed in his face.

"A lot of times," Faisal said, "people thought my dream was a joke."

Our whole family thought it was a good joke as we sat around and had a good time roaring about it. (why my family is here instead of in India is another story altogether)

Not until last week did Faisal finally stumble upon a sport that fit him. Usually, coaches said, a first skeleton run is something to overcome.

At the speeds skeleton is performed and the danger involved, "stumbling" up the sport that fit him is an unfortunate analogy. More tragic irony ensues:

To do so, he'll also need certification from an organization that does not exist. All skeleton athletes most be certified to compete by their country's governing body for the sport, and Iraq has no such thing. Therefore Faisal is ineligible to participate in Olympic qualifying races.

Ahhh... can't you just imagine him trying those sports: