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Muscat: An Emirati teenage boy showed camaraderie with the 2008 Beijing Olympic torch bearers in Muscat by running parallel nearly the full 20-kilometre relay distance covered by 80 runners.
Visibly tired but full of spirit at the end of the relay at the Qurum Nature Park, 16-year-old Ali Redha Al Amri told Gulf News that he ran parallel with the torch bearers on Monday evening to show solidarity.
"I also wanted to prove that even young school boys like us can run and participated in this historic moment," said Ali, who carried the Omani flag while jogging with the torch bearers.
Ali's family is from Sharjah but his father works for the Petroleum Development Oman. "This (Oman) is like a home to us and we love this place," he said. Ali had informed his father of his decision to try and run as much as he can with the torch bearers.
"My father asked me to carry some money in case I get tired and decide to take taxi home but I refused so that my resolve remain strong," Ali said. He completed the run and got the privilege of sharing space with the other torch bearers at the end of the relay.
He said that at first he was not sure he would be allowed to run with the Olympic torch bearers. "They (security and police) then allowed me to run and even offered me to get into the bus but I wanted to run," he said. He praised the police and organisers for providing him with food and water along the route.
In reply to the question on why he carried an Omani flag despite being an Emirati, Ali said: "I live in Oman and this was a historic event happening in Oman, besides we respect His Majesty Sultan Qaboos so it was appropriate for me to carry Omani flag."
"I am proud of what I did and hope my parents would be proud of my feat," he said as stood along with Oman's international tennis star Fatma Al Nabhani, the youngest of the 80 torch bearers in Muscat.
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