Time

Person Speaking

Dialogue

00:00:52

Text on  poster 

Azzedine Nouiri

00:01:00

Text on poster

Azzedine Nouiri – Paralympic Champion

00:01:04

Crowd

Azzedine, Azzedine, Azzedine. 

00:01:13

Crowd

Azzedine, Azzedine

00:01:24

Female radio

Presenter

(O.S.) 

To Sports now, where Azzedine Nouiri offered Morocco its very first medal at the Rio Paralympic Games by winning first place in shot put in F34 category.

00:01:38

Female Radio

Presenter (O.S.)

The London 2012 Olympic Champion and World record holder maintained his title with a throw of 11.28m.  

00:01:53

Interviewer

Azzedine, welcome home and congratulations. Radio MFM is here with you today. Where are you from?

00:01:58

Azzedine   Nouiri 

I grew up in Safi. It’s my city.

00:02:01

 Interviewer

Any words for the fans? 

00:02:02

Azzedine Nouiri

Thank you for your support. God bless you.  It’s all thanks to you.

00:02:08

Interviewer (O.S.)

How old are you?  

00:02:09

Azzedine Nouiri (O.S.)

I’m 30.

00:02:11

Interviewer (O.S.)

So we can hope for another medal then?  

00:02:13

Azzedine Nouiri (O.S.)

Yes! God willing. 

00:02:14

Interviewer (O.S.)

You know the road to the gold medal.

00:02:15

Azzedine Nouiri (O.S.)

Yes, I do and I won’t ever get less. 

00:02:19

Interviewer (O.S.)

Tell us more about the medal.

00:02:21

Azzedine Nouiri (O.S.)

It wasn’t easy.

00:02:22

Azzedine Nouiri (O.S.)

You may see me laughing now, but I spent four years training hard for it.

00:03:10

Child

This is our story. This is how we live. And this is how we’ll die. In this arena, we chant la vida otra, vamos vamos. From the beginning, the game is rigged. And in this long road we are lost. Life is worthless and your

mind is narrow. But it’s all ok because I live with faith.

00:03:51

Azzedine Nouiri 

Being disabled may seem like a curse. It’s something nobody wishes upon themselves. Especially in the neighbourhood I grew up in, full of crime. If I wasn’t disabled, I wouldn’t be an athlete. I would 100% be a drug addict. There is a high chance that I would have taken the wrong path in that environment. 

00:05:10

Athlete

We need access to the stadium, we really do. We have a brand new stadium, but we can’t train in it. I tried to get in the other day but I was kicked out. I don’t know why he decided to stop me from getting in. They should be helping us, not stopping us.

00:05:32

Azzedine Nouiri

If it’s so hard to train, forget about trying to work in this country. 

00:05:37

Athlete

We are not going to steal or smoke. We just want to train, but nobody is helping. I don’t know why they enjoy breaking us down all the time.

00:05:49

Azzedine Nouiri

The city prefers to keep us here in the thorns.

00:05:58

Unknown

I heard they will build a marina here. Imagine yachts here.

00:06:03

Azzedine Noiuri

It would look nice there.

00:06:05

Unknown

We’d be lucky to see it in 2023. 

00:06:08

Unknown

Or when your children’s children are born.

00:06:09

Unknown

That’s Morocco for you. That’s Safi.

00:06:14

Azzedine Nouiri

At least life is cheap for us here.

00:06:17

Azzedine’s Friend 1

That decision is made by both the business and by the watch commander at the particular time.

00:06:19

Azzedine Nouiri

No jobs, but no one is dying from hunger.

00:06:23

Unknown 

People have all sorts of degrees here, but they can’t find work.

00:06:30

Azzedine’s friend 2

Do you have a degree Azzedine?

00:06:32

Azzedine Nouiri

I have two. One in mechanical engineering and one in

IT.

00:06:39

Azzedine’s friend 3

A degree in mechanical engineering and you’re not working?

00:06:42

Azzedine Nouiri

I don’t think about it anymore.

00:06:55

Azzedine Nouiri (O.S.)

The first time I tried shot put, I felt it could be my thing. I was coring numbers that were close to international qualifiers, but I would never get selected by the National team. The problem was that I play using a chair, so the Federation didn’t want to bother with people like me because I would be more costly to them. But thankfully, I could take support myself. That’s why they eventually let me in, and I could start my career in sports. I take care of myself and of another guy who has an even heavier disability than myself.

00:07:48

Azzedine Nouiri

That’s it.

00:07:50

Youssef Ouaddali

Should I throw here?

00:07:52

Azzedine Nouiri

Look there. See my shadow? See my head? That’s where.

00:07:55

Youssef Ouaddali

Your head?      

00:07:55

Azzedine Nouiri

Yes, that’s your target.

00:08:09

Youssef Ouaddali

Where’s your head?

00:08:11

Azzedine Nouiri

There. Easy, easy. Just like that.

00:08:24

Azzedine Nouiri

Focus only on your fingers. Take it and throw it. Don’t spend ages. You are just training now, not competing. Grab it, throw it. Don’t lean on your back. Our goal is to improve the speed of your throw. Leave that alone.

00:08:48

Youssef Ouaddali

One second...

00:08:50

Azzedine Nouiri

What the hell? Stay in the same position you throw in. why are you inventing a new position to annoy me?

Place your hand here. Throw. You can do it. Don’t worry about distance. We’re working on technique now. Come on, Youssef. It’s not your first time shot putting. That’s right. Your throw is still too heavy, though. You need to learn to throw as if you’re about to suddenly slap someone. 

00:09:21

Azzedine Nouiri

You have strength. It’s technique you lack. Take a short break now. You do that ok.

00:09:38

Azzedine Nouiri

Are you tired?

00:09:40

Youssef Ouaddali

Yes, a little.

00:09:41

Azzedine Nouiri

That’s the key.

00:09:47

Text on sign

The Disabled People’s Association of Southern Morocco – Safi.

00:09:54

Azzedine Nouiri

Moulay Ahmed, we need to write a letter asking why Youssef wasn’t invited to training camp.  

00:10:00

Moulay Ahmed

To the president of the Royal Moroccan Federation...

00:10:05

Azzedine Nouiri

What will you put in the subject, sir?

00:10:09

Moulay Ahmed

Explanation.

00:10:11

Azzedine Nouiri

Explanation, that’s it?

00:10:13

Moulay Ahmed

Explanation for excluding the athlete Youssef Ouaddali.

00:10:23

Azzedine Nouiri

Can you add his last result?

He made the

qualifying distance. Ask why they didn’t put him on the team when his

performance

ranks him second in the world in his category.

00:10:39

Azzedine Nouiri

The boy worked very

hard for it.

00:10:42

Moulay Ahmed

I know he trains almost every day.

00:10:45

Azzedine Nouiri

He trains every day.

Not almost.

00:11:00

Azzedine Nouiri

Youssef and I grew up together in the

NGO.

Because of

Youssef’s disability, he needs to have an assistant in order to be part of the

National Team and play professionally. I used to help him when he started when his disability was heavier than it is now.

00:11:27

Azzedine Nouiri 

So when the

Sports Federation saw that I could take care of him, they were ok to call him in the team because they didn’t have to get him an assistant.

00:11:40

Azzedine Nouiri

But he’s made his mark now. He has always worked very

hard.

00:12:35

TV Actress - woman

On the table there is a big, big cake. Have you seen it?

00:12:42

TV Actress - child

No, mamma.

00:12:44

TV Advert

If you are looking for love, call me on this number any time any day.

00:13:00

Youssef Ouaddali

Go, Azzedine! You’re great!

00:13:08

Youssef Ouaddali

Go, Azzedine.

00:13:10

Athlete 2

Isn’t Azzedine amazing?

00:13:13

Youssef Ouaddali

Yes, he’s great.

00:13:18

Youssef Ouaddali

Do you need my help? 

00:13:34

Youssef Ouaddali

Great,

Azzedine.

00:13:38

Shot put official

9.92.

00:13:38

Athlete 2

It’s good, it’s good.

00:13:48

Youssef Ouaddali 

No, it’s not

enough. He normally throws farther.

00:13:48

Athlete 3

The referee told him not to wear sandals.

00:13:51

Azzedine Nouiri (O.S.)

I feel good in these sandals.

00:13:53

Youssef Ouaddali

Do you want trainers so you can play?

Time

Person

Speaking,

Dialogue

00:13:57

Athlete 2

Trainers. Yes.

00:13:58

Youssef Ouaddali

There you go.

00:14:03

Athlete 2

I don’t think they’re my size. 

00:14:04

Youssef Ouaddali

Just try them on.

00:14:11

Shot put official 2 (O.S.)

Youssef Ouaddali or Addali or whatever.

00:14:13

Youssef Ouaddali

Present!

00:14:27

Azzedine

Nouiri

Youssef!

00:14:33

Shot put official 1 (O.S.)

6.47.

00:14:48

Shot put official 1 (O.S.)

6.73. 

00:14:58

Azzedine

Nouiri (V.O.)

Youssef is part of my life now. I’ve grown used to having him around. I feel like his presence makes me more focused.

00:15:10

Other athletes tell me I should focus more on my own game, but I don’t see why. I feel much more rewarded

because I matter to him. It’s only a question of organisation anyway, and I don’t feel that he is exhausting me. 

00:15:33

He helps me too, by the way. We complete each other.

00:15:52

TV

Presenter 

Hello and welcome to Mubacharatan Maakum Program.

Tomorrow is the 3^rd of December. It is the International Day of Disabled Persons, and to discuss this topic we welcome our guests. Mr Azzedine Nouiri, welcome. The audience might recognise you as a Paralympic champion, you won the gold medal and world record at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. You may have a different perspective on this topic and its legal framework in our country.

00:16:31

Azzedine

Nouiri 

Disabled people have yet to receive anything of what is written in law. Let’s begin with basics first. Schools don’t have ramps. When you are in a wheelchair, you don’t have access to classrooms. Mosques also don’t have access for us. It has happened to me, I couldn’t get inside the mosque so I prayed outside. When I finished praying they threw coins at me, thinking that I was a beggar.

That’s when you feel really disabled.

00:17:14

Azzedine

Nouiri (V.O.)

The Paralympic Games is the only chance for me and my friends to change our lives. We wait for it every four years because it’s the only competition with a monetary prize if we win a medal. It’s a chance for disabled people to have an income so we can support our families. Our ambition is to receive an income.

00:17:48

Azzedine

Nouiri

Abdelhadi, we have to go see the stadium’s manager.

00:17:53

Abdelhadi

Sure let’s go.

00:17:54

Azzedine

Nouiri

You managed to get access. We didn’t.

00:17:56

Abdelhadi

Yes, he lets me in now.

00:18:01

Athlete 4

He let you in because you made the request through the running club for the non-disabled.

00:18:08

Abdelhadi

Let’s call him and make an appointment.

00:18:11

Azzedine

Nouiri

I’d better go with you and talk to him directly

00:18:14

Abdelhadi

Alright.

00:18:16

Azzedine

Nouiri

We really need to solve this problem.

00:18:33

Azzedine

Nouiri

I’d like to ask, sir, if we could have a group of five people who come fives times a week? The beginners would come in once a week to train in the empty space so that the ball doesn’t damage anything. 

00:18:54

Stadium

manager

We have your letter asking for permission and we discussed it. But we can’t let all of you in. 

00:19:03

We’ll only let people in like you who have big competitions coming up.

00:19:08

Azzedine

Nouiri  

All the guys are preparing for national competitions.

00:19:16

It would really help us if we could train in a real stadium. It’ll make us feel like athletes, even if we train just outside the stadium.

00:19:31

Stadium manager

You guys have weird chairs though.

00:19:34

Azzedine

Nouiri

They just need to be fixed to the floor.

00:19:38

Man beside stadium manager 

We can fix it with nails. If there’s a cement platform we can use, it’s easier.

00:19:44

Azzedine

Nouiri

Do you have equipment here? Like weights and javelins?

00:19:51

Stadium manager

We do, but we only lend it to clubs.

00:19:55

Azzedine

Nouiri

We can put in a request from our association’s club.

00:19:59

Stadium manager

Put in a new request, and then we’ll see.

00:20:03

Azzedine

Nouiri

Thanks for meeting with me, sir.

00:20:05

That’s fine.

After is too, after my life is completely ruined.

00:20:25

Azzedine

Nouiri

They didn’t want to give us access to the stadium unless the Federation asks for permission on our behalf. Maybe you could write to the Federation’s president, Mr. Aouni.

He can intervene on our behalf.

00:20:48

Moulay Ahmed

He said he would talk to the sports director about it.

00:20:53

Azzedine

Nouiri

It would be great if we could get access. They have equipment there.

00:20:58

Moulay Ahmed

To the president...

00:21:04

Azzedine

Nouiri

...Of the Royal Moroccan Federation of Athletics.

00:21:09

Moulay Ahmed

It is my honour to ask Your Excellency to grant permission to members of the club of the disabled people’s association of Safi to train in the stadium to prepare for national and international competitions. As you know, our

NGO has given eight champions to the National Athletics Team in various sports. Please accept my highest respects. Yours sincerely.

00:21:39

Azzedine

Nouiri

It’s great. I hope they will answer soon.

00:21:52

Azzedine

Nouiri

That’s the stadium. See how it is.

00:21:54

Youssef Ouaddali

I’ve never been here.

00:21:58

Azzedine

Nouiri

I’ve been inside. One day, we’ll train here too. God willing.

00:22:05

They’ll give us access one day. See how nice the grass is inside. It makes you want to be there.

00:22:08

Youssef Ouaddali

Yes, it does! 

00:22:15

Azzedine

Nouiri

If they give us the permission to train here before Rio, it will help us a lot.

00:22:23

You may have qualified but you still have to pass the test to guarantee your place. When the ball is in your hand, make every throw count. You have to see your future in each throw. Always remember the suffering you have endured. The second you sit on that chair, you have to become unbeatable. I tell myself I have to conquer them all. I have to show them I am here. Whatever you do to me, I’m still here. I picture my future in that throw. You see the humiliations.

00:23:02

Youssef Ouaddali

You see the humiliations.

00:23:04

Azzedine

Nouiri

Yes, exactly. But you try to overcome it. You have to turn that pain into strength, not weakness.

00:23:14

Be a man now. 

00:23:18

Youssef Ouaddali

Rachid. Can you write Brazil for me? 

00:23:42

Rachid

It looks like a hot country.

00:23:44

Youssef Ouaddali

Yes.

00:24:15

Azzedine

Nouiri (V.O.)

Hi, darling, how are you?

00:24:15

Woman on phone

Is everything okay with you?

00:24:19

Azzedine

Nouiri (V.O.)  

How is mum doing?

00:24:22

Woman on

phone              

Your mum has been a little sick.

00:24:24

Azzedine

Nouiri (V.O.)  

But she is all right now?

Time

Person Speaking,

Dialogue

00:24:2

6

Woman on phone

We took her to the doctor.

00:24:3

1

Azzedine Nouiri ( V.O.)

Why? Wasn’t she feeling well?

00:24:3

4

Woman on phone

The doctor said she had kidney failure. We had to take her to Marrakech urgently for her operation.

00:25:0

1

Azzedine Nouiri                                

How are you, Mummy? How did you cope with...?

00:25:0

6

Azzedine’s mother

To God we are grateful. I wished you’d been by my side. But please, if you love me, never let them put me in an ambulance again.

00:25:1

8

Azzedine  Nouiri 

Is it uncomfortable?

00:25:1

9

Azzedine’s mother

You have no idea. I had to go all the way to Casablanca in the ambulance. We had to spend so much money.

00:25:3

0

Azzedine Nouiri                                

Money is nothing. Mum, your health is more important. And they said you should go twice a week?

00:25:3

9

Azzedine’s mother

Twice a week at $160 a week. That’s excluding medicine and medical tests. So a month will cost $1000. You won’t be able to afford this for very long. What’ll you do when your money is gone? Sell this house? And then what? It’s a lot of money.

00:26:0

1

Azzedine Nouiri                                

You mean a lot more to me than money. 

00:26:0

6

Azzedine’s mother

Thank God you’re all old enough now and that this didn’t happen to me when you were young.        

00:26:5

2

Azzedine Noui ri 

Youssef.

00:26:5

3

Youssef Ouaddali

Yes.

00:26:5

4

Azzedine Nouiri

Listen. You are not like the other guys. You and I have to train more than the others.

00:27:0

2

Youssef Ouaddali

 More, yes.

00:27:0

3

Azzedine Nouiri

You need to train twice as much as everyone else. At the gym and here too. I can’t be with you now. I have stuff to do in Rabat. You mustn’t stop training. You pick up a stone or whatever, and you start counting your steps. 1... 2... Got it? Like that until  you reach 9 metres. Big steps. Put the stone as a marker. And throw like you are competing. Always hit 9 or more so you can guarantee your place on the national team. Don’t forget to do this when you coach the others. You show them everything. When you throw, sit straight, look up. You should feel taller. Push the ball and scream. Don’t sit like this. Put this in your head: if I see you hunching, you’ll see what I’ll do to you. Can I count on you? Be a man.

00:28:0

7

Youssef Ouaddali

Yes, you can.

00:28:0

8

Azzedine Nouiri

Today is my last session with you, but I might come back in two weeks.

00:28:26

Azzedine Nouiri

When I came back to Morocco from the London Paralympic Games in 2012, the minister of sports had promised that we would get an income just like all the athletes before us. We were so happy to hear that. But every time we went there, they would send us back to get administrative papers. For two years, we spent all our money going back and forth to the ministry. I had to borrow money to pay for trips to the ministry. But nothing came out of it. So I suggested all we champions do a sit-in in front of the minstry.

00:29:37

Azzedine Nouiri (O.S.)

This should be our ultimate sit-in.

00:29:40

Azzedine Nouiri

They either give us the money we’re owed, or they give us a lump sum.  Or they find us a job in the public sector or national enterprises.

00:30:19

Azzedine Nouiri

We are at a sit-in in front of the Ministry of Youth and Sports. We demand that we are given our constitutional rights to an income as athletes. Since the last Paralympic Games 2012  we were promised that we will get an income, but we didn’t get anything. We need this job in order to make a living. It’s a shame that in a country like Morocco we have to sleep in the street to obtain our rights.

00:31:13

Youssef Ouaddali

3...4...5...6... I need 9.

00:31:35

Youssef Ouaddali

Azzedine wants you to train, just like he wanted me to be a champion. One day you can be come a champion too.

00:31:47

Zakaria

God wiilling

00:31:50

Youssef Ouaddali

But you need to suffer. Okay?

00:32:55

Zakaria

God willing.

00:31:56

Youssef Ouaddali

So that in the future, you can become my successor. And you’ll become very good. We didn’t have a coach, but I’ll be your coach. You’ll be my successor, and you’ll also travel aboard, okay?

00:32:29

Youssef Ouaddali

Wait, Zakaria, let me do it.

00:32:42

Go on.

00:32:52

No. You are throwing it the wrong way.

00:32:58

Come here. Like this. Get it? You’ll stop doing that soon enough.

00:33:18

Go on.

00:33:23

Azzedine Nouiri

Hello... how are you, darling? Are you still alive? How is mother? How did her visit to the doctor go? Did she get her medical results?

00:33:46

Okay. I’ll check. No, nobody came to check on us.

00:34:02

Moulay Ahmed

Hello, Azzedine. What’s going on? How are you, son?

00:34:06

Azzedine Nouiri (on phone)

How are you? How’s work?

00:34:10

Moulay Ahmed

I haven’t seen you in a while.

00:34:13

Azzedine Nouiri (on phone)

I just wanted to ask if anybody has replied to our letter.

00:34:16

Moulay Ahmed

No, nobody has,

00:34:18

Azzedine Nouiri (on phone)

Really? So, no proper training for us then. 

00:34:22

Moulay Ahmed

No, I am afraid not. The children are also getting impatient, but there’s nothing we can do.

00:34:26

Azzedine Nouiri

The children are also getting impatient, but there’s nothing we can do. There’s no other stadium we can use either.

00:34:33 

Azzedine Nouiri

There’s no other stadium we can use either. Remember that other stadium we used to train in years ago in 2000? They turned that one into a car park.

00:35:13

Azzedine Nouiri (O.S.)

All good, Youssef?

00:35:15

Youssef Ouaddali

All good.

00:35:16

Azzedine Nouiri

You ready?

00:35:17

Youssef Ouaddali

Ready.

00:35:18

Azzedine Nouiri

Training camp will be longer this time. Six or seven months, There’ll be a test after the camp.

00:35:27

Youssef Ouaddali

Really?

00:35:28

Azzedine Nouiri

It’s for the Olympics. So be a man. The test is to qualify. We’ll get paid $5 a day to be in camp. I heard that the ministry might add a bonus to those who qualify, You understand? It could be a good sum of money.

00:35:52

Youssef Ouaddali

That’s great. I am planning to spend it on the house.

00:36:01

Azzedine Nouiri

But you should still aim for the medal regardless of the bonus.

00:36:48

 Man with crutches

Good morning, everyone.

00:36:53

Training camp member 1

Shall we go inside? 

00:36:54

Training camp member 2

Of course.

00:37:03

Mr Lamrini

Please put your phone on silent or vibrate. If anybody has a call that is more important than this meeting, go outside. 

00:37:18

The doctor is calling me. Hello, good morning. Doctor, I’m here with the athletes. If it’s not urgent, can we speak later?

00:37:33

The preparations have started now. We hope that we can provide training continuously until the paralympics. For those who are good enough to participate. And for those who are not, well, this is sports. It’s possible here that some of you do not perform to the standards that the coaches and the  Federation expect and thus they’ll be removed from the team. We are not a travel agent. I hope it’s clear. We are not a tourist office. We are in a Paralympian year, and our goal is not only to participate in the paralympics. Morocco does not just participate. It wins medals. So both I and you have a big responsibility here. Does anybody

have something to add?

00:38:50

Azzedine Nouiri

The shot putters do not have enough equipment, sir.

00:38:54

Mr Lamrini

What’s not enough?

00:41:45

Azzedine Nouiri

Not even a quarter of a kilo each.

00:41:52

Unknown

Ask the girls for paracetamol.

00:41:54

Azzedine Nouiri

Nobody has any.

00:41:57

Youssef Ouaddali

So do you want to go to the doctor’s?

00:42:02

Azzedine Nouiri

No, I just want to rest.

00:42:12

Unknown

Uncle, how are we doing here? Youssef is 9^th, you are 2^nd, and I am 4^th.

00:42:22

Azzedine Nouiri

2nd? Who came 1^st?

00:42:26

Unknown

All I know is that you’re 2^nd.

00:42:30

Azzedine Nouiri

Check again, please.

00:42:38

This is new informaiton.

00:42:44

Unknown

The Chinese guy is in 1^st place now.

00:42:46

Azzedine Nouiri

Who?

00:42:48

Unknown

The Chinese.

00:42:49

Azzedine Nouiri

In the javelin throw?

00:42:50

Unknown

No, man, shot put.

00:42:51

Azzedine Nouiri

Shot put!

00:42:54

Unknown

11.07.

00:42:56

Azzedine Nouiri

Really? What’s his name? Yang? Yang Zho?

00:43:01

Unknown

Wong Yang. He came out of the blue.

00:43:03

Azzedine Nouiri

He came out of the blue.

00:43:06

Unknown

He came 1^st on the 24^th April, 2016. 

00:43:14

Azzedine Nouiri

He improved a lot, this Chinese guy.

00:43:26

Azzedine Nouiri

5...6...7...

00:43:31

12...13...14...

00:44:09

Woman on phone

How are you, my son? Congratulations, my son, you just had a baby girl. Just this morning. She’s so beautiful. Try to come at least for a day to see her.

00:44:30

Mr Lamrini

The Federation’s decision

is final. You are all ambassadors of your country. And if we had the possibility of taking you all, we would. But we can only take nine + five athletes in total. We made the decision that there’ll be a qualifying test. The test will take place next Saturday, God willing, and is voluntary. The test should only be taken if you think you can improve your performance, and thus your international ranking.

00:45:19

Person in yellow T-shirt and cap

When we get injured, we become garbage, Mr Lamrini, right?

00:45:25

Mr Lamrini

Look, many like you got injured in the past and did not participate. If you were injured as part of the team, we would have taken care of you.

00:45:36

Person in yellow T-shirt and cap

I was injured here! Everyone saw it. And you threw me out! Guys, help me out. Was I, or was I not, injured here?

00:45:47

People in the background

You were, yes, you were!

00:45:49

Mr Lamrini

Sit down and listen quietly. I’ll answer. You were an excellent member of the team, but you had family problems.

00:45:57

Person in yellow T-shirt and cap

I’m talking about my injury!

00:45:59

Mr Lamrini

Stay quiet please. Stay quiet. Let’s bring in the coach to testify.

00:46:04

Person in yellow T-shirt and cap

The coach doesn’t know anything!

00:46:08

Mr Lamrini

Stay quiet or get out! I’m kicking you out of the team!

00:46:19

Azzedine Nouiri

I’ll not bring my chair. I’ll not take the test.

00:46:22

Youssef Ouaddali

I knew you wouldn’t.

00:46:25

Azzedine Nouiri

You know me.

00:46:28

Are you ready?

00:46:30

Youssef Ouaddali

Always.

00:46:32

Azzedine Nouiri

Ready, ready? You can’t go below 9.

00:46:35

Youssef Ouaddali

God willing.

00:46:38

Azzedine Nouiri

9 metres, and your place is safe. It should be easy for you, you’ve done it already. Just relax. Are you listening?

00:46:55

Did you see the present that Saida got me? It’s a big present.

00:47:01

Youssef Ouaddali

Really?

00:47:09

Azzedine Nouiri

What’s funny? They’re of good quality. Pick up the shoe. Pick it up. It’s my daughter’s. 

00:47:18

You want them?

00:47:20

Youssef Ouaddali

No, no.

00:47:22

Azzedine Nouiri

Why not?

00:47:23

Youssef Ouaddali

When I’ll have mine.

00:47:27

Azzedine Nouiri

Your own children?

00:47:28

Youssef Ouaddali

Yes. Start with the shoes, then the children will follow.

00:47:34

Azzedine Nouiri

Start with the shoes, dude. When your mother sees these shoes, she’ll understand that you are ready and she’ll start looking for a wife for you. But if you keep your head down, nothing will ever happen.

00:47:52

Youssef Ouaddali

You’re so...

00:47:54

Azzedine Nouiri

I’m so evil?

00:48:05

Youssef, my Youssef.

00:48:08

Youssef Ouaddali

Azzedine, my Azzedine.

00:48:20

Azzedine Nouiri

My child!

00:48:24

Do you want to play this game?

00:48:25

Youssef Ouaddali

No, no no no!

00:48:30

Azzedine Nouiri

Lay back, just lay back. As if you are a rich man who doesn’t need anything.

00:48:42

Relax and move your hands like this.

00:48:48

Slowly. Relax. Look up into the sky.

00:49:01

Wipe your mouth.

00:49:11

Azzedine Nouiri

Do a thorough warm up.

                                                 00:49:14

Youssef Ouaddali

I’ll go for a jog...

00:49:17

Azzedine Nouiri

And don’t throw below 9 metres.

                                                                                          00:49:32

Guy in red cap

God is the greatest.

00:49:49

Youssef Ouaddali

Hello.

00:49:51

Unknown

Go, Youssef!

00:49:58

Azzedine Nouiri

Go down, up and throw. You know what to do.

00:50:15

Is the chair in the right direction?

00:50:27

Youssef Ouaddali

Can you move a little?

00:50:46

Referee

Ball out!

00:50:48

Azzedine Nouiri

Youssef. Take it easy. Let it know you’re the boss.

Fingers! Fingers!

00:51:08

Referee

8.39.

00:51:16

Azzedine Nouiri

Don’t waste time when you’re down.

00:51:34

Out, out. Youssef, take a deep breath. Tighten it again. Youssef, shall I move your buckle to the side so it doesn’t hurt you? 

00:51:50

Youssef, throw it right.

00:51:51

Youssef Ouaddali

Alright.

00:52:20

Referee

9.53.

00:52:31

Unknown

No more.

00:52:34

Youssef Ouaddali

Give me five.

00:52:44

Azzedine Nouiri

That belt trick worked. Remember it next time, you dumb fool.

00:52:54

Man in orange T-shirt

Come, catch me. Well done, you. I am proud of you, son. You did well.

We’ll continue working, and you’ll do better.

00:53:05

Youssef Ouaddali

Thank you, sir, thank you, sir.

00:53:16

Azzedine Nouiri

Give me a smile.

00:53:24

Why do you have that piece of paper?

00:53:26

Youssef Ouaddali

So you can write Rio for me.

00:53:28

Azzedine Nouiri

Rio, huh? Are you planning on posting it on Facebook?

00:53:45

Daddy, daddy. Daddy, daddy. You’re smiling.... You’re smiling... I’m here now... Daddy... Daddy...

00:54:22

Azzedine Nouiri (V.O.)

I won’t be able to compete at this level forever. If I don’t recover from my injury? How will I play again? I’m going to disappoint everyone. Why do you even protest and lose your dignity by sleeping in the street? How will I provide for my family? What will I live on?

00:54:58

Zakaria

Where are we going to sit?

00:55:00

Youssef Ouaddali

Over there. There. You’ll see it’s nice there.

00:55:11

Zakaria

Tell me, Youssef...

00:55:13

Youssef Ouaddali

Yes, bro.

00:55:14

Zakaria

Did you ever love a woman?

00:55:18

Youssef Ouaddali

No.

00:55:19

Zakaria

Don’t lie.

00:55:21

Youssef Ouaddali

I tried many times, but they all reject me.

00:55:28

Zakaria

How do they reject you?

00:55:31

Youssef Ouaddali

I try to get closer to them, then they reject me. They don’t want to.

00:55:34

Zakaria

They go away?

00:55:36

Youssef Ouaddali

Yes. Maybe because I look like a monster.

00:55:42

Zakaria

What are your dreams?

00:55:47

Youssef Ouaddali

For me, Zakaria, brother, all I want is a nice home so I can get married and have children. I want her to be kind.  She could be ugly or even super ugly. I just want her to be kind.

Got it?

00:56:12

Zakaria

Yes, I get it. Carry on.

00:56:16

Youssef Ouaddali

I don’t care about how she looks, you know. As long as she’s nice to my parents.

00:56:23

Zakaria

Nice to your parents and to you too.

00:56:27

Youssef Ouaddali

Nice to me? It’s not mandatory.

00:56:29

Zakaria

You must get along.

00:56:36

Youssef Ouaddali

One metre. Two,,, Three... Four... Five...

Six...

00:56:49

Two... Three... Four...

00:56:58

Three... Four...

00:57:03

One... Two...

00:57:14

Youssef Ouaddali

How much is this one?

00:57:15

Saleswoman

This one is also $6.

00:57:20

Man on beach 1

Will you go sightseeing in Rio?

00:57:23

Youssef Ouaddali

Yes, all sorts of things.

00:57:27

Man on beach 1

Take pictures in front of the famous sights in Rio and send them to us.

00:57:31

Man on beach 2

Take a swim in

Copacabana for us.

00:57:35

Youssef Ouaddali

At least I’ll see bikinis there.

00:57:53

Youssef’s mother

God help you succeed. Safe travels, my son. God bless you, my son. Goodbye, son, and God bless you.

00:58:01

Azzedine’s mother

My son. God bless you. God is with you.

00:58:02

Azzedine Nouiri

Stop it mum. Enough, enough.

00:58:07

Be good and take your medicine.

00:58:11

Mum! Take your medicine.

00:58:14

Azzedine’s mother

Yes. You are my medicine.

00:58:44

Azzedine Nouiri

See where sports took you, my son.

00:58:45

Youssef Ouaddali

To the best days of my life.

00:58:50

Azzedine Nouiri

You’re one of a kind. Do you like this place? Shall we find you a wife here?

00:58:56

Youssef Ouaddali

No, let me come back to my country.

00:59:07

Azzedine, I’ll go up. Take

another picture of me.

00:59:20

What is written there?

00:59:21

Azzedine Nouiri

Rio 2016.

00:59:38

Look at this! Rio de

Janeiro! Copacabana.

00:59:45

Youssef Ouaddali

I like that island there.

00:59:48

Azzedine Nouiri

That isolated cliff there?

00:59:50

Youssef Ouaddali

Exactly.

00:59:58

I wouldn’t mind going for a swim.

01:00:00

Azzedine Nouiri

You want to try Brazilian water? It’s the same as Safi. It’s the same ocean. The only difference is the sand. Okay?

01:00:20

Youssef Ouaddali

Okay.

01:01:08

Azzedine Nouiri

That’s where you’ll be playing. Can you see it?

It’s next to the running finishing line.  That’s where they’ll fix the chairs. The stadium will be full. Not like now. Just be a man and don’t be scared.

01:01:29

Youssef Ouaddali

How is your hand, Azzedine?

01:01:34

Azzedine Nouiri

It still hurts. It still hurts. I put some ice on it yesterday.

01:02:07

It’s your day. Don’t push me.

01:02:11

Staff member

You’re the guide?

01:02:13

Azzedine Nouiri

Me, guide. 

01:02:16

Staff member

A guide? In a wheelchair?

01:02:17

Azzedine Nouiri

Yeah.

01:02:26

He doesn’t understand how I can be his guide and be in a wheelchair. No problem.

01:02:30

First time in history that a guide is disabled.

01:02:41 

Be a man now. Wake up.

Down, up, throw, no more. Give it all you’ve got.

Scream. Are you listening?

Scream when you throw.

Your future is there.

01:03:14

See that white line there? You can beat that, right?

01:03:20

Youssef Ouaddali

Yes, I can.

01:03:33

Azzedine Nouiri

Try once next to me. Try.

01:03:53

Why? Excuse me, why red? Why? 

01:04:20

Be a man. You didn’t scream once. Where do you think you’re playing? It’s the Olympics, man.

You have three throws left. Show me you’re a man. If you didn’t have it in you, I wouldn’t be talking to you like this. You throw more than 9.50 at home, and here you throw 7 metres? Make this work. You have strength. It’s mental power you’re lacking now.

01:04:41

Listen. You can do it. You can. One fucking throw is all you need. I still have faith in you.

01:05:03

Wake up man, wake up.

01:05:11

Down, up, throw, and scream, for fuck’s sake.

01:06:08

Bravo, bravo.

01:06:39

Hello, Mr Hamid.

01:06:44

Mr Hamid (O.S.)

You ordered a private taxi?

01:06:48

Youssef Ouaddali

I’m so sorry.

01:06:50

Mr Hamid

Don’t say that. You’re a champion.

01:06:53

Youssef Ouaddali

Thank you.

01:06:59

Azzedine Nouiri

The referees were tough.

01:07:00

Mr Hamid

Nothing you can do about that.

01:07:18

Azzedine Nouiri

My problems are starting now. I have two Iranians. One Chinese who is strong. One Colombian. One Qatari. One Emirati. One from Kazakhstan. A lot of rivals.

01:07:42

Let’s hope for the best.

01:07:52

Guy with earphones (O.S.)

What time are you playing?

01:07:55

Azzedine Nouiri

At 9.15.

01:07:57

Guy with earphones

Did you put massagecream on your arm?

01:07:59

Azzedine Nouiri

Yes.

01:09:45

Azzedine Nouiri (V.O.)

God only knows that when I hold the ball, I forget all the pain. That throw is everything. It holds all my problems, all my ambitions. I think about how I have struggled, all the people that expect me to get a medal, and all those that have doubted my abilities. When I sit in that chair, I know that my destiny is

determined by that throw.

01:11:51

Azzedine Nouiri

Where’s the medal? Where is it?

01:13:25

Youssef Ouaddali

Now, I need to throw 10 metres.

01:14:18

Azzedine Nouiri

The moment I was on the podium and I saw my flag being hoisted in front of a crowd of 80,00 people, who all stood up during the anthem, I felt something I can’t describe. Bitter or sweet, you feel part of something bigger than yourself at that moment. I performed as well as any athlete can wish for. I set a world record and a gold medal in the London and Rio Paralympics. I really thought my life was going to change. My life didn’t really improve. No official came to talk to us about our issues to find solutions together. But we won’t surrender. We will remain strong. Until we can achieve our hopes.

01:15:40

Unknown

Azzedine! Azzedine! How are you, man?

01:15:45

Azzedine Nouiri

Hold the bag, hold it!

01:15:49

Unknown

Hello.

01:15:50

Azzedine Nouiri

I need you as my card partner. I’m losing. 

01:15:53

Unknown

Hello, brother how are you?

01:15:58

Poster text

‘I honoured my country, but when I needed it, it rejected me’.

01:16:04

Unknown

Did you go back to see the doctor?

01:16:08

Azzedine Nouiri

Not yet. I will try one of these days while we’re here. Maybe you could take me.

01:16:14

Unknown

You have to go. Your arm isn’t getting better. Just find the money.

01:16:24

Azzedine Nouiri

We might be champions, but we are broke.

Champion is just a title.

01:16:31

Guy in blue T-shirt

It’s really a shame. I don’t feel like a champion anymore.

01:16:38

Azzedine Nouiri

You overdid it with your world records.

01:16:41

Guy in blue T-shirt (O.S.)

What about your two Olympic gold medals?

01:17:12

Azzedine Nouiri (O.S.)

Hello Youssef, how are you? Look, I had to go to Rabat again. Keep training with the boys in the wasteland. Just keep training. Like we always do. Be a man.

01:17:36

Azzedine Nouiri

I’m not going anywhere. I’m protesting for my rights.  You can’t prevent us from getting what’s ours. Protesting is a constitutional right. Protesting is a constitutional right. Long live the King. We didn’t do anything. We are not blocking any doors now. My own country is treating me this way. I won’t stop using my phone. I won’t stop using my phone.

01:18:13

Security

Lift him up, please.

01:18:17

Azzedine Nouiri

Come on, let them arrest us. Don’t touch him.