War at home is taking its toll on the only Palestinian athlete at the Paralympic Games

PARIS (AP) — Fadi Aldeeb got the competing out of the way early at the Paralympic Games. He’s been using the rest of the time to talk.

The only Paralympian in the Palestinian delegation in Paris, Aldeeb feels he bears special responsibility to represent all Palestinians living in Gaza, the West Bank and elsewhere. He tries not to think about his own situation.

“I’m their voice. And I want to talk and talk and talk,” the Gaza native told The Associated Press in an interview this week.

The 40-year-old Aldeeb, who uses a wheelchair, was the Palestinian flag bearer during the Games’ opening ceremony, two days before he placed last in the men’s shot put for seated athletes with a season best throw of 8.81 meters.