Bahrain

Bilisuma Shugi Gelassa of Bahrain (C) poses with Essa Ismail Rashed of Qatar (L) and Mahboob Ali Hasan Mahboob of Bahrain (R) on the podium during the award ceremony for the men's 10,000m in the athletics competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 26, 2010. Bilisuma Shugi Gelassa of Bahrain won gold, Essa Ismail Rashed of Qatar took silver and Mahboob Ali Hasan Mahboob of Bahrain won bronze.

Bahrain's Hasan Mahboob (L) poses with Bahrain's Aadam Ismaeel Isa at the awards ceremony for the men's 10,000m final on the second day of the athletics competition for the 15th Asian Games at Khalifa Stadium in Doha, 09 December 2006. Bahrain's Hasan Mahboob won the gold with a time of 27:58.88, with Qatar's Essa Ismail Rashed taking silver and Bahrain's Aadam Ismaeel Isa the bronze.

Maryam Jamal of Bahrain (C) poses with Thanh Hang Truong of Vietnam (L) and Mimi Belete Gebregeiorges of Bahrain (R) on the podium during the award ceremony for the women's 1,500m event in the athletics competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 23, 2010. Maryam Jamal of Bahrain took gold, Thanh Hang Truong of Vietnam won silver and Mimi Belete Gebregeiorges of Bahrain the bronze.

Mahboob Ali Hasan Mahboob of Bahrain stands on the podium during the award ceremony for the men's 10,000m in the athletics competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 26, 2010. Bilisuma Shugi Gelassa of Bahrain won gold, Essa Ismail Rashed of Qatar took silver and Mahboob Ali Hasan Mahboob of Bahrain won bronze.

Bilisuma Shugi Gelassa of Bahrain stands on the podium during the award ceremony for the men's 10,000m in the athletics competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 26, 2010. Bilisuma Shugi Gelassa of Bahrain won gold, Essa Ismail Rashed of Qatar took silver and Mahboob Ali Hasan Mahboob of Bahrain won bronze.

Bilisuma Shugi Gelassa of Bahrain celebrates on the podium during the award ceremony for the men's 10,000m in the athletics competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 26, 2010. Bilisuma Shugi Gelassa of Bahrain won gold, Essa Ismail Rashed of Qatar took silver and Mahboob Ali Hasan Mahboob of Bahrain won bronze.

In this photo taken on September 7, 2010, football players claiming to represent Togo for an international friendly match against Bahrain pose for a pre-match team photo at the Bahrain National Stadium in Riffa, Bahrain. Togolese sports officials were quoted as saying the national side had not been sent to Bahrain, and that the game, which Bahrain won 3-0, had been played with a team masquerading as the national squad, Bahraini media reported on September 15, 2010.

Maryam Jamal of Bahrain celebrates on the podium during the award ceremony for the women's 1,500m event in the athletics competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 23, 2010. Maryam Jamal of Bahrain took gold, Thanh Hang Truong of Vietnam won silver and Mimi Belete Gebregeiorges of Bahrain the bronze.

Maryam Jamal of Bahrain bites her gold medal on the podium during the award ceremony for the women's 1,500m event in the athletics competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 23, 2010. Maryam Jamal of Bahrain took gold, Thanh Hang Truong of Vietnam won silver and Mimi Belete Gebregeiorges of Bahrain the bronze.

Maryam Jamal of Bahrain bites her gold medal on the podium during the award ceremony for the women's 1,500m event in the athletics competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 23, 2010. Maryam Jamal of Bahrain took gold, Thanh Hang Truong of Vietnam won silver and Mimi Belete Gebregeiorges of Bahrain the bronze.

In this photo taken on September 7, 2010, Bahraini national football team captain Mohammed Hussain (2L) poses for a pre-match picture with the alleged captain of a 'fake' opposing Togolese team (2R), and match referees before the international friendly at the Bahrain National Stadium in Riffa, Bahrain. Togolese sports officials were quoted as saying the national side had not been sent to Bahrain, and that the game, which Bahrain won 3-0, had been played with a team masquerading as the national squad, Bahraini media reported on September 15, 2010.

Shitaya Eshete Habtegebrel of Bahrain stands on the podium wrapped in a national flag during the award ceremony for the women's 10,000m event in the athletics competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 21, 2010. Preeja Sreedharan of India won gold, Kavita Raut of India won silver and Shitaya Eshete Habtegebrel of Bahrain won bronze.

Mahboob ali Hasan Mahboob of Bahrain stands on the podium during the award ceremony for the men's 5,000m event in the athletics competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 21, 2010. Mahboob ali Hasan Mahboob of Bahrain won gold, James Kwalia Kurui of Qatar the silver and Felix Kikwal Kibore of Qatar bronze.

Shitaya Eshete Habtegebrel of Bahrain stands on the podium with a national flag during the award ceremony for the women's 10,000m event in the athletics competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 21, 2010. Preeja Sreedharan of India won gold, Kavita Raut of India won silver and Shitaya Eshete Habtegebrel of Bahrain won bronze.

Maryam Jamal of Bahrain (R) walks with Mimi Belete Gebregeiorges of Bahrain (L) a the end of the women's 1,500m final in the athletics competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 23, 2010. Jamal won gold and Gebregeiorges took bronze.

Tareq Taher of Bahrain celebrates on the podium during the award ceremony for the men's 3,000m steeplechase event in the athletics competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 23, 2010. Tareq Taher of Bahrain won gold, Thamer Kamal Ali of Qatar won silver and Ali Ahmad al-Amri of Saudi Arabia won bronze.

Bahrain's Hussain Ali Baba (17) vies for the ball against Syria's Mohammed al-Zino (12) during their friendly match held in the Bahraini capital Manama, on November 14, 2010. Bahrain will compete in the upcoming GCC football championship in Yemen. AFP PHOTO/ADAM JAN syrian footballer 12 teries to get away with the ball Nov 14 2010 from the bahraini footballer 17.

Mahboob ali Hasan Mahboob of Bahrain poses with his gold medal next to James Kwalia Kurui of Qatar (L) and Felix Kikwal Kibore of Qatar (R) on the podium during the award ceremony for the men's 5,000m event in the athletics competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 21, 2010. Mahboob ali Hasan Mahboob of Bahrain won gold, James Kwalia Kurui of Qatar the silver and Felix Kikwal Kibore of Qatar bronze.

Tareq Taher of Bahrain (C) poses with Thamer Kamal Ali of Qatar (L) Ali Ahmad al-Amri of Saudi Arabia (R) on the podium during the award ceremony for the men's 3,000m steeplechase event in the athletics competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 23, 2010. Tareq Taher of Bahrain won gold, Thamer Kamal Ali of Qatar won silver and Ali Ahmad al-Amri of Saudi Arabia won bronze.

Tareq Taher of Bahrain bites his gold medal on the podium during the award ceremony for the men's 3,000m steeplechase event in the athletics competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 23, 2010. Tareq Taher of Bahrain won gold, Thamer Kamal Ali of Qatar won silver and Ali Ahmad al-Amri of Saudi Arabia won bronze.

Mimi Belete Gebregeiorges of Bahrain (C), Preeja Sreedharan of India (L) and Kavita Raut of India (R) pose on the podium during the award ceremony for the women's 5,000m in the athletics competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 26, 2010. Mimi Belete Gebregeiorges of Bahrain won gold, Preeja Sreedharan of India won silver and Kavita Raut of India took bronze.

Tareq Taher of Bahrain bites his gold medal on the podium during the award ceremony for the men's 3,000m steeplechase event in the athletics competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 23, 2010. Tareq Taher of Bahrain won gold, Thamer Kamal Ali of Qatar won silver and Ali Ahmad al-Amri of Saudi Arabia won bronze.

Bahrain's Maryam Yusuf Jamal poses with her gold medal at the awards ceremony for the women's 1500m final on the fifth and final day of the athletics competition for the 15th Asian Games at Khalifa Stadium in Doha, 12 December 2006. Jamal won gold with a time of 4:08.63.

Abdulwahab al-Malood of Bahrain (R) controls the ball under a challenge from Kamaleddin Kamyabinia of Iran (2L) while Hamidreza Ali Asgaridehaghi of Iran (2R) and (L) look on during their men's pool group B football match at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 10, 2010. Iran lead 1-0 at half-time.

Bahrain's first ever woman MP Latifa al-Qaoud walks into an election office in Manama to register for the upcoming legislative elections as an independent candidate for the southern governorate on September 12, 2010. With no one running against her, the elections committee and local media reported on September 19, 2010 that Qaud, who represents the Shiite opposition, has won a seat uncontested one month before the Bahraini parliamentary elections, scheduled to take place in October.

Bahrain's Finance Minister Sheikh Ahmad bin Mohammad al-Khalifa (R) attends a finance ministers meeting of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states in Kuwait City on November 6, 2010 to discuss progress towards a planned customs union and common market ahead of a December summit.

Bahrain's first ever woman MP Latifa al-Qaoud walks into an election office in Manama to register for the upcoming legislative elections as an independent candidate for the southern governorate on September 12, 2010. With no one running against her, the elections committee and local media reported on September 19, 2010 that Qaud, who represents the Shiite opposition, has won a seat uncontested one month before the Bahraini parliamentary elections, scheduled to take place in October.

Bahrain's Yusuf Saad Kamel poses with his gold medal at the awards ceremony in the men's 800m final on the fourth day of the athletics competition for the 15th Asian Games at Khalifa Stadium in Doha, 11 December 2006. Kamel won gold with a time of 1:45.74.

A boat representing a scene from Bahrain motors up the Pearl River during the opening ceremony of the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 12, 2010. The Asian Games officially opened with a glitzy gala ceremony tonight, culminating years of planning for a massive event that is set to reinforce China's regional sporting dominance.

A flag bearer leads the Bahrain delegation during the opening ceremony of the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 12, 2010. The Asian Games officially opened with a glitzy gala ceremony tonight, culminating years of planning for a massive event that is set to reinforce China's regional sporting dominance.

Tareq Taher of Bahrain (L) runs ahead of Thamer Kamal Ali of Qatar (R) competes in the men's 3,000m steeplechase final in the athletics competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 23, 2010. Taher won gold and Ali the silver.

Tareq Taher of Bahrain (L) finishes ahead of Thamer Kamal Ali of Qatar (R) to win gold in the men's 3,000m steeplechase final in the athletics competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 23, 2010. Taher won gold and Ali the silver.

(L-R) Tareq Taher of Bahrain, Ali Ahmad al-Amri of Saudi Arabia, Zakrya Ali Kamil of Qatar, Thamer Kamal Ali of Qatar take the jump in the men's 3,000m steeplechase final in the athletics competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 23, 2010.

Mimi Belete Gebregeiorges of Bahrain (C) finishes first ahead of Preeja Sreedharan of India (L) and Kavita Raut of India (R) in the women's 5,000m final in the athletics competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 26, 2010. Gebregeiorges won gold and Sreedharan took silver and Raut the bronze.

Mimi Belete Gebregeiorges of Bahrain (R) finishes first ahead of Preeja Sreedharan of India (L) and Kavita Raut of India (C) in the women's 5,000m final in the athletics competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 26, 2010. Gebregeiorges won gold and Sreedharan took silver and Raut the bronze.

Tareq Taher of Bahrain (R) takes the water jump ahead of Thamer Kamal Ali of Qatar (L) competes in the men's 3,000m steeplechase final in the athletics competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 23, 2010. Taher won gold and Ali the silver.

(L-R) Tareq Taher of Bahrain, Ali Ahmad al-Amri of Saudi Arabia, Zakrya Ali Kamil of Qatar and Thamer Kamal Ali of Qatar take the water jump in the men's 3,000m steeplechase final in the athletics competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 23, 2010.

Mimi Belete Gebregeiorges of Bahrain (R) finishes first ahead of Preeja Sreedharan of India (L) and Kavita Raut of India (C) in the women's 5,000m final in the athletics competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 26, 2010. Gebregeiorges won gold and Sreedharan took silver and Raut the bronze.

Sheikh Rashed Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum of the United Arab Emirates stands on the winner's podium after winning the gold in the 120km equestrian endurance race individual title here at the Asian Games in Doha 14 December 2006. The 25-year-old son of the ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed beat home Bahrain's Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, son of the King of Bahrain, while another rider from the Emirates Sultan Bin Sulayem took the bronze.

GUANGZHOU, CHINA - NOVEMBER 26: (L-R) Essa Ismail Rashed of Qatar, Gold medallist Bilisuma Shugi Gelassa of Bahrain and Bronze medallist Mahboob Ali Hasan Mahoob of Bahrain in the Men's 10,000m Final at Aoti Main Stadium during day fourteen of the 16th Asian Games Guangzhou 2010 on November 26, 2010 in Guangzhou, China.

Tareq Taher of Bahrain (L) finishes ahead of Thamer Kamal Ali of Qatar (R) to win gold in the men's 3,000m steeplechase final in the athletics competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 23, 2010. Taher won gold and Ali the silver.

(L-R) Tareq Taher of Bahrain, Ali Ahmad al-Amri of Saudi Arabia, Zakrya Ali Kamil of Qatar, Thamer Kamal Ali of Qatar Tao of China take the jump in the men's 3,000m steeplechase final in the athletics competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 23, 2010.

Mimi Belete Gebregeiorges of Bahrain (R) finishes first ahead of Preeja Sreedharan of India (L) in the women's 5,000m final in the athletics competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 26, 2010. Gebregeiorges won gold and Sreedharan took silver.

Tareq Taher of Bahrain (R) takes the water jump ahead of Thamer Kamal Ali of Qatar (L) competes in the men's 3,000m steeplechase final in the athletics competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 23, 2010. Taher won gold and Ali the silver.

(L-R) Tareq Taher of Bahrain, Ali Ahmad al-Amri of Saudi Arabia, Zakrya Ali Kamil of Qatar and Thamer Kamal Ali of Qatar take the water jump in the men's 3,000m steeplechase final in the athletics competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 23, 2010.

Mimi Belete Gebregeiorges of Bahrain (R) finishes first ahead of Preeja Sreedharan of India (L) and Kavita Raut of India (C) in the women's 5,000m final in the athletics competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 26, 2010. Gebregeiorges won gold and Sreedharan took silver and Raut the bronze.

(R-L) Jin Yuan of China, Kareema Saleh Jasim of Bahrain, Aster Tesfaye Tilahun of Bahrain, Minori Hayakari of Japan, Orchatteri Puthiya of India and Sudha Singh of India jump the barrier and hit the water in the women's 3,000m steeplechase final in the athletics competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 21, 2010.

Ehsan Haji Safi of Iran (R-front) is tackled by Mohammed Ajaj of Bahrain (R-back) as Ismail Khamis of Bahrain (L) follows the loose ball during their men's pool group B football match at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 10, 2010. Iran won 1-0.

Thanh Hang Truong of Vietnam stands listening to the Bahraini national anthem on the podium during the award ceremony for the women's 1,500m event in the athletics competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 23, 2010. Maryam Jamal of Bahrain took gold, Thanh Hang Truong of Vietnam won silver and Mimi Belete Gebregeiorges of Bahrain the bronze.

Essa Ismail Rashed of Qatar stands on the podium during the award ceremony for the men's 10,000m in the athletics competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 26, 2010. Bilisuma Shugi Gelassa of Bahrain won gold, Essa Ismail Rashed of Qatar took silver and Mahboob Ali Hasan Mahboob of Bahrain won bronze.