Volleyball team lead revival of women's sport in Algeria

By William Maclean

ALGIERS (Reuters) - The Beijing Olympics mark a modest recovery for women's sport in Algeria, where female athletes were once reviled by religious conservatives.

Runner Hassiba Boulmerka was spat at on her return to the north African country after her 1,500 meters win in Barcelona in 1992.

Religious leaders condemned the young woman from Constantine for "daring to display her nudity before the whole world".

It was a moment of profound division as Algeria descended into years of strife between the army and Islamist rebels.

Now a new generation of female athletes are making a push to pursue sporting dreams. The Muslim country remains traumatized by the 1990s violence and by recent occasional high-profile bombings, but the overall political situation has stabilized.

The nation's female volleyball players show just how far things could change: All Africa Games champions, they are on their way to Beijing, the first time an Algerian women's volleyball team has competed in the world's greatest sporting event.

"It's a dream for every athlete," said team captain Marimal Madani, 24, speaking breathlessly between exercises during weight training with her fellow players in an Algiers gym.

The Algerians won a qualifying tournament in January to snap up Africa's only berth in the women's competition in Beijing.

"It's extraordinary. We can meet the world's best teams. And we're setting an example for women's sport in Algeria."

TOO RISKY

Algerian sport is in dire need of a boost. In the 1990s, sport of every kind took a back seat to politics. In some areas, widespread violence meant leaving home for any but the most essential tasks was simply too risky.

To make matters worse, those years saw big sporting advances by regional rivals Morocco and Tunisia.

Preoccupied by civil strife, gloomy Algeria watched its most glorious moments recede into history -- Boulmerka's 1992 gold medal and world title in 1991, and runner Noureddine Morceli's world records in the 3,000 meters, 1,500 meters and the mile.

Sport, particularly women's sport, remains in a fragile state but at least the atmosphere is different these days.

"The dark years blocked us a bit. Now it's our turn to show what we can do," said player Nassima Benhamouda, whose presence in the squad suggests the possibilities opening up for women.