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TEAM
TIBET
UK Based Members
These young Tibetans are all passionate
sportsmen and women forced to live as refugees as their
country continues to be occupied by China. Their dream
is to fly the Tibetan national flag alongside the flags
of other nations as they join athletes representing
their countries from all over the world to walk into the
Olympic Stadium at the opening of the Beijing Games on
August 8, 2008. It is their passion for sports as well
as a greater vision of freedom - to live free as a
people and nation - that gives these athletes the
strength to believe in their dream. |
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Phurbu
Rigzin
Male
24, Javelin
Phurbu
Rinzin is a Tibetan student at the London Metropolitan
University,
Studying,
Computer Science. Born in Bhutan, Phurbu came to the UK
to
study
for his International Baccalaureate Diploma and he was
then offered a place at the London Metropolitan
University.
I
grew up in the mountains of Bhutan, grazing sheep and
cows, during term time I lived at the Tibetan Children's
Village in India, home of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
While at school I learnt about various sports and in
fact took part in competitions and won several medals
for my sporting achievement! Since then I have been
passionate about sports but I never thought about
representing my beloved country in the Olympics! Having
got this wonderful opportunity now in the Team Tibet for
Beijing 2008, I couldn't be more proud, I am truly honored.
I
will be representing Tibet in Javelin. Having practiced
and competed in this sport over the years,
I
see the perfect blend of technique, style and power. The
fusion is simply breathtaking and showcases a true
sportsman prowess.
Like my teammates, and me generally Tibetans are
cheerful of sports and we do have some great athletes. I
believe we should be treated fairly and given equal
opportunity to take part in these sporting events
irrespective of the political situation. Moreover, The
Chinese Government is actively engaged in a massive
propaganda drive under the Olympic banner to promote a
happy face of Tibet, legitimizing their brutal
occupation contrary to the real horrific sad situation
inside Tibet. Having used all these happy images of
Tibetans and culture in the Olympic publicity, I would
imagine Beijing Govt will allow us to take part in the
games and join the Olympic spirit!
Being
a Tibetan, I have every reason to be proud of my
country, my people and myself. Flying high of our snow
lion flag amongst other nations' and competing with
fellow international athletes in the Olympic would mean
so much to me as a person. I am passionate in my
games and determined to make this dream come true,
please do support Team Tibet in this historic endeavor,
Tashi Delek and Thuje che.
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 Pema Yoko Norbu
Female
24, Table Tennis
Pema Yoko was born in London to a
Tibetan father and Japanese mother. Her childhood
enthusiasm for sports found its niche in table tennis at
a tender age.
2008
Beijing Olympics is a great platform for Tibetan
identity as well as its struggle for freedom. It is also
a celebration of great sportsmanship, shared by the
world, and I do not want Tibet to loose this great
opportunity. Tibetan’s have been undermine and abused
in their own country for too long, but Tibetans will
rise and we will win this battle through non-violence
and truth, as truth always wins.
I
believe in my country and therefore will represent them
in Table Tennis, I feel the skills I have learnt in
Japan and with the right coaching I will beat China and
South Korea.
I am very
proud to be apart of Team Tibet, and dream of coming
home with a
medal and make history.
China
teaches the world that Tibet is free, if this is the
case
then they will
not object or pressure the IOC for Team Tibet to join
the Olympics
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Rangdol
Male
21, Table Tennis
Born in India, Rangdol excelled at school and in 2007,
under the scholarship scheme of London Metropolitan
University for international students, he was awarded a
scholarship. He is now in London and studying for his
BSc in Computing and Mathematics.
“Since
from the childhood I am having persistent pain of not
having my country free, as it is brutally oppressed by
Chinese government. Since we have the right reason of
the truth, I believe that one day sooner or later every
dying citizen of snowland would definitely be reunited
and enjoy freedom of independent country. The primary
reason behind signing up for Team Tibet is that as every
nation turns up for the Olympic Games, we as citizens of
Tibet have no doubt that we the right to join in the
Olympics. Though I am not a good table tennis player,
still I would like to compete with other nations, as to
the outer world I just want to say that Tibet hasn't
died rather it’s still alive and becoming stronger and
stronger day by day. Through this I would like to
strongly appeal to all human beings, considering the
true long history of independent Tibet before 1959, show
your kind support for the great cause of our freedom
struggle. Bhoe gyalo.”
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Dawa Tenzin
Male
27, Squash
Dawa came to the UK through the
organisation Pestalozzi in 1984. He now works and lives
in London. Dawa has represented Tibet as a team member
of the UK Tibetan football team.
“Every
time there is an international sporting event I am
reminded that my country and my people are not free. I
want to be part of Team Tibet as I want this to change.
I don’t want Tibetan children growing up without pride
in their country, I want them to see us in Beijing at
the 2008 Olympics alongside other countries carrying our
flag and representing our people.”
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 Konchok Woesar
Male 26,
Long
distance runner
Konchok Woeser came to the UK in
1989. Originally from a Tibetan refugee settlement in
south India, when he was 9 he was offered a place to
study in Hastings, Sussex, promising great potential in
academic and sporting areas. Konchok's sporting
experience includes participation in the London Flora
half Marathon in order to raise funds for charity.
“When
I was living in a refugee settlement in south India I
dreamt of participating in the Olympics in Athens while
I helped my parents in the field. Living in the UK has
given me such opportunities I never thought possible,
and I want to make the most of them to become one step
closer to realising this dream. I want nothing more than
to fly the Tibetan flag at the Olympic games in
Beijing.” |
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Tony
Dorjee Masaya
Male 20,
100 meters
Tony Dorjee Masaya is a young
and athletic young Tibetan born in the UK to a Tibetan
mother and a Jamaican father. When not pursuing his
first passion of athletics and running, Tony also writes
and performs Rap drawing on his strong feelings and
dedication to the Tibetan issue.
“I’ve
been able to channel my passion for music into promoting
Tibetan issues, but until now I have not been given the
opportunity to use my first passion of athletics to
honour my Tibetan heritage. I want the Olympics to be a
platform for Tibetans like other nations. I want to
represent my country and do the best I can for Tibet, as
I feel I have a skill to repay back my people who lost
their lives to the Chinese.”
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