Somali athletes defeat hardship for shot at glory

The training facilities are pock-marked with bullet holes from years of brutal conflict, but as the four athletes -- two men and two women -- stride out in training, they offer a glimmer of hope for the war-ravaged nation.

Multiple governments have failed to create stability in the Horn of Africa nation, wracked by over two decades of civil war, let alone form a competitive sports team.

Yet coach Ahmed Ali Abikar, who himself ran for his country, believes the team could prove a point to the world about Somalia, which so often appears on international news only for war, famine, drought or piracy.

"We are motivated, our team spirit will see us through," said Abikar, as the athletes stocked up on energy with piles of sugar-laden traditional Somali pancakes. "We can show everyone that sport is still alive in Somalia."

Somalia, like all nations, has two guaranteed slots in athletics, one man and one woman. For the anarchic nation, just having their two athletes fly Somalia