Palestine at the 2000 Summer Olympics

Palestine at the 2000 Summer Olympics
Flag of Palestine
IOC code	PLE
NOC	Palestine Olympic Committee
Website	www.poc.ps  (in Arabic)
in Sydney
Competitors	2 in 2 sports
Flag bearer	Ramy Deeb
Medals	Gold 0 Silver 0 Bronze 0 Total 0
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)
1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024

Palestine was represented at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia by the Palestine Olympic Committee.

In total, two athletes including one man and one woman represented Palestine in two different sports including athletics and swimming. It was their largest delegation at an Olympics at the time, one more than had represented the territory on their debut at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Swimmer Samar Nassar was the first woman to represent Palestine at the Olympics.

Background

The Palestine Olympic Committee had been created in 1976 but wasn't recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) until 1993. They made their Olympic debut the following year at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Majed Abu Maraheel was the only athlete to represent the territory during their debut games in the men's 10,000 m. He finished 21st in his heat and did not progress to the final of the event. ^{[1] [2]}

Competitors

In total, two athletes represented Palestine at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia across two different sports. ^[3]

Sport	Men	Women	Total
Athletics	1	0	1
Swimming	0	1	1
Total	1	1	2

Athletics

Main article: Athletics at the 2000 Summer Olympics

In total, one Palestinian athlete participated in the athletics events – Ramy Deeb in the men's 20 km race walk. ^[3]

Athlete	Event	Final
		Result	Rank
Ramy Deeb	20 km walk	1:32:32	44

Swimming

Main article: Swimming at the 2000 Summer Olympics

In total, one Palestinian athlete participated in the swimming events – Samar Nassar in the men's 50 m freestyle. ^[3]

Athlete	Event	Heat		Semifinal		Final
		Time	Rank	Time	Rank	Time	Rank
Samar Nassar	50 m freestyle	30.05	65	did not advance

Aftermath

Palestine established themselves as a regular competitor at the Summer Olympics. The size of their delegations increased at each subsequent Olympics until peaking at six athletes for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. ^[1]

See also

• Palestine at the 2000 Summer Paralympics

External links

• Official Olympic Reports

References

1. "Palestine (PLE)". Olympedia. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
2. "Majed Abu Maraheel". Olympedia. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
3. "Palestine at the 2000 Summer Olympics". Olympedia. Retrieved 2 July 2025.