The Palestinian territories are the two regions of the former British Mandate for Palestine that have been occupied by Israel since the Six-Day War of 1967. The Palestine Olympic Committee has been recognized by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) since 1986, and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) since 1995. The decision was protested by Israel, who was refused membership to the same committee in 1982. The president of the Olympic Committee of Israel called it political propaganda and vowed to protest the decision to the International Olympic Committee.[1][2] The 1996 Summer Olympics were held from 19 July to 4 August 1996. For the 1996 Summer Olympics, Palestine sent a delegation of one athlete. Long-distance runner Majed Abu Maraheel competed in the men's 10,000 metres event. As he was the only athlete in the Palestinian delegation, he became the flagbearer for Palestine during the parade of nations of the opening ceremony.[3]
Palestine was represented by one athlete at the 1996 Summer Olympics. 33 year old Majed Abu Maraheel represented Palestine at their Olympic debut.[4] He competed in the men's 10,000 metres event on 26 July. Majed competed in the first heat with 24 other athletes. He finished last out of 21 athletes that finished the race.[a] He recorded a time of 34 minutes and 40.50 seconds. Colombia's Herder Vázquez placed ahead of him with a time of 33 minutes and 26.15 seconds, in a heat led by Ethiopia's Worku Bikila who posted a time of 27 minutes and 50.57 seconds, 6 minutes and 49.93 seconds seconds quicker than Majed's time. Out of 48 athletes, Majed ranked last out of 42 athletes that finished.[b] He was over 6 minutes behind the slowest athlete that progressed to the finals. He did not progress to the later rounds.[5]
Key
Note – Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only
Q = Qualified for the next round
q = Qualified for the next round as a fastest loser or, in field events, by position without achieving the qualifying target
