Summary

NAME: CHN OLY ISRAEL 20080811I TAPE: EF08/0814 IN_TIME: 10:18:41:02 DURATION: 00:01:43:21 SOURCES: AP TELEVISION DATELINE: Beijing, 11 Aug 2008 RESTRICTIONS: SHOTLIST 1 Israeli Olympic swimmer Alon Mandel (in blue and white tracksuit) walking out from the Watercube Aquatic Centre 2 Wide shot of Alon Mandel talking to Israeli press with WaterCube in background 3 Alon Mandel talking to press - then taking a phone call from Israel 4 Rack focus from Olympic Rings symbol on Olympic Broadcasting Tower to Alon Mandel on phone 5 SOUNDBITE (English) Alon Mandel, Israeli Olympic Swimmer: My mom let me know about my dad and she told me on that call that it's his will that I should stay here, because, like I told you it has been a seven year dream She just said just dedicate this meet to him That's his will 6 Wide of Alon Mandel and his older sister Maya hugging 7 SOUNDBITE (English) Maya Mandel, Alon Mandel's sister: I mean, he thought about it for a couple hours and then told the team that he was going to stay here and swim and represent Israel in these games and he's going to be needing their support and their care and they've been doing a marvellous job just you know, hanging out with him, keeping him smiling and everything 8 Back view of shirt reading (English) Team Israel Beijing 2008 9 Wide of electric passenger cart approaching, stopping with Alon Mandel on the phone in the background 10 Wide shot of Alon Mandel leaning against railings, talking on the phone STORYLINE Israeli swimmer Alon Mandel dedicated his first appearance at the Olympic Games on Monday to the memory of his father, who died last week in a tragic accident Costa Mandel, 51, died after he fell from a ladder at their family home last Wednesday Alon considered leaving for home immediately to be with his family, saying that family was more important than his participation in the games But his mother and family members convinced him to stay and compete, saying that fulfilling the dream that Alon had been pursuing for seven years was something his father would be proud of My mom let me know about my dad and she told me on that call that it's his will that I should stay here, because, like I told you it has been a seven year dream, he said She just said just dedicate this meet to him That's his will Alon's older sister Maya took a leave of absence from military service to fly over to be with him during the games She said they were trying to stay positive for now and would deal with the family tragedy together as a family when they returned home I mean, he thought about it for a couple hours and then told the team that he was going to stay here and swim and represent Israel in these games, she said She added he told the team he would be needing their support and care They've been doing a marvellous job just you know, hanging out with him, keeping him smiling and everything, she said The funeral has been postponed until Alon and Maya return to Israel