Marathon: Symbols of hope for Timor

By GREG ANSLEY

Little more than a year ago, Calisto da Costa's world was one of terror as East Timor militia razed the former Indonesian province in revenge for its independence vote.

Tomorrow, with Timor's borders still guarded by New Zealand and Australian troops, 21-year-old marathon runner da Costa will compete in the Olympics for the world's newest nation with just two months training and a powerful hope for the future.

In Dili, the race will be screened on three large TV screens set up by the United Nations.

Da Costa's three team-mates have already competed, all with the goodwill of a global audience moved by the appearance of the tiny squad in the opening ceremony.

Martinho De Araujo, a 27-year-old weightlifter, has already competed, finishing 20th in the mens 56kg category.

With his gym and equipment destroyed, De Araujo used a cog wheel from a truck transmission as a bench press and made barbells by fixing a steel bar between two 22-litre drums filled with cement.

He had no idea what weight he was actually lifting, team manager Frank Folie said.

For De Araujo, his 20th placing was only the beginning for the fledgling nation's athletes.

"Two months only we've had for training and this is what we can do," he said. "Can you imagine if we had all the facilities all the other athletes have?"

Marathon runner and 28-year-old mother of three Aguida Amaral created one of the enduring memories of the Games when she collapsed with relief across the finishing line, then picked herself up and ran on when she realised there was another lap to go.

For Amaral, the Games provided hope for Timor's future.

"To see all the nations gathered here without any problems is something that makes me very happy," she said.

"I can take this back to East Timor and tell the young people yes, we can come together again in four years and be happy."