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May 23, 2010
Gaza Opens Olympic Size Swimming Pool
The Palestinian Maan News Agency reports that an Olympic-sized swimming pool has opened in the Gaza Strip.
This development raises a key questions that reporters should keep in mind:
1) News reports constantly remind us about the cement shortages in the Gaza Strip. Given the reported shortage, which is allegedly delaying the building of critical infrastructure such as sewage projects, schools, and homes, how is cement available to build an Olympic-sized pool?
2) Given the reported shortages of water in the Gaza Strip, is an Olympic swimming pool really the best use of this precious resource?
3) This week a flotilla of aid ships from Greece and Cyprus, carrying some 10,000 tons of basic supplies, including construction material, is scheduled to reach the Gaza Strip this week. Will the hundreds of Freedom Flotilla passengers have a chance to take a dip in the pool after they deliver the desperately needed construction supplies? (BTW, in the last week, Israel reportedly delivered 14,000 tons of supplies into the Gaza Strip.)
Posted by TS at May 23, 2010 04:56 AM
Comments
the idea that there is any well-equipped pool in Gaza is so ludicrous it would laughable if the situation was not so tragic.
Posted by: gerry hawke at May 27, 2010 06:18 PM
I am very glad that there is attention being paid to the development of athletes and athletic facilities in Gaza. Of course this should be reported in mainstream media. I'd rather see Palestinians rally around a sports event then the continued manufactured hatred for Israel. The entire "aid" effort was probably more an attempt of the Turkish government to encourage political support for extreme Islam within it's own country than a real humanitarian effort to help the poor of Gaza. I am not saying Gaza doesn't need humanitarian relief, but I question the motivation of the Turkish Government.
Posted by: ccb at June 7, 2010 08:05 AM
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