Win or lose, this boxer will step into history

Sydney: East Timorese boxer Victor Ramos may not be in line for a medal when he steps into the ring on Sunday, but he will already have written his name into the record books just by making it to the Sydney Olympics.

Ramos has drawn a tough first bout against Ghana's Raymond Narh, a former Commonwealth Games gold medallist who is also 22 centimetres taller and eight years younger than the 30-year-old East Timorese.

Win or lose, Ramos will become a symbol of East Timor's survival after last year's fight for independence when pro-Indonesian militia killed hundreds of people and ravaged his homeland.

Team manager Frank Fowlie was confident Ramos would do himself justice in the 60 kg division and win a few fans on the way.

"He's strong, he's fit, he's agile, he has the ability to fight," Fowlie said.

"He may not be the favourite in terms of boxing, but he'll be the sentimental favourite in terms of the Australian hometown crowd."

Ramos and his three fellow East Timorese athletes will compete at the Olympics as "Independent Olympic Athletes" and will have a place of honour at the opening ceremony, marching into the stadium ahead of the Australian host team.

The historic links between the two countries were strengthened last year when Australia led an international force into the former Portuguese colony to end the militia violence.

Weightlifter Martinho de Araujo will launch the East Timorese campaign on Saturday in his first international contest.

Fowlie said special broadcast facilities would beam the opening ceremony and the East Timorese athletes' performances back to Dili, the territory's capital.

United Nations aircraft would also distribute videos to East Timor's outlying areas.



(c) Reuters Limited.