2004 press releases Iraqi Boxer Dreams of Gold in Athens August 12, 2004

Iraqi boxer, Najah Ali, gives his opponent a right hook at the 2004 Titan Games in Atlanta, Georgia. Ali is the only boxer to represent Iraq in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. He will fight in the 48kg (106lb) weight class. (State Dept) Iraq is sending the largest Olympic team since 1988 By Erin Block Washington File Staff Writer Washington -- An Iraqi boxer and his American coach are headed to Athens not just to compete for a medal, but also to be "ambassadors of freedom," said the duo. Najah Ali, a 24-year-old boxer from Iraq will proudly raise his country's flag at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. "Representing my country, especially now with a free Iraq, I consider this the biggest thing in my life," said Ali. Ali's coach, Maurice "Termite" Watkins will be at his ringside. Watkins, a retired professional boxer, was in Iraq as a pest control expert during the spring of 2003. He was asked by Mike Gfoeller, a Coalition Provisional Authority official, what the chances were of putting together a boxing team from Iraq. Watkins, laughing, said maybe one in a million. Iraqi boxer, Najah Ali, listens to his coach, Maurice "Termite" Watkins, in-between rounds at the 2004 Titan Games in Atlanta, Georgia. Watkins and Ali have developed a strong teacher-student bond since meeting in Spring 2003. (State Dept) But the team came together. Twenty-four young men came into Baghdad for the first practice. They put their gloves on and started hitting each other, noses started bleeding, mouths were bloody and Coach Termite had to put an end to it. "They didn't have helmets or mouth guards and half of them didn't have shoes," said Watkins. The team said they didn't know any other way. On the first day of practice Watkins told the team that they had a slim chance of making it to the Olympics, but to remember that anything is possible. "I told them we are going to the Olympics. We will make it happen," said Watkins. The Iraqi boxing team got its chance in a million: Najah Ali. Ali was granted a wildcard entry into the 2004 Olympic Summer Games based on recent performances. He will be the only boxer representing Iraq in Athens, where he will compete in the 48-kilogram (106 pounds) weight class. Ali spent one month this summer training with the United States Olympic boxing team at Colorado Springs. It was the first time he had the chance to train in a quality facility with equipment and support. "They have made me feel very welcome and a part of their team," said Ali. Coach Watkins said that the U.S. Boxing Team and the U.S. Olympic Committee gave him equipment and clothes and welcomed him as one of their own. "There's a relationship there that is very special to Najaf. He has never had that," said Watkins. Ali talked about trying to be an Iraqi athlete in the past. "There was little support, and we couldn't really travel outside of Iraq to box. There wasn't the freedom to compete because you would only think about being in trouble if you did poorly," said Ali. "But now it's very supportive and I am able to fight for my country as a boxer." Iraq is sending 25 athletes, including Ali, to this summer's Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. The Iraqi Olympic team has grown from its four-athlete Sydney team in 2000. The athletes will compete in soccer, swimming, track and field, judoka, boxing and weightlifting. "It's not about winning now it's about going. It's about the freedom to go and about seeing that flag raised high," said Watkins. "That will be the icing on the cake to see their flag raised high and know that Iraq is back." As far as the chances of Ali winning gold, his coach says, "Najah has had 37 fights and most Olympians have had 200-300. But if he is on and he fights like he can fight, he can win gold. And that's all I hear him talking about." Ali is confident: "Watch me in the Olympics, I am going for the gold," he said. Ali and Watkins left for Athens August 5, and the boxer's first match is August 18. The United States State Department partnered up with the International Olympic Committee and the U.S. Olympic Committee to bring Iraqi athletes, including Ali, to the United States to train for the 2004 summer games.

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