Sports activity in Tabqqa is recovering after the end of ISIS control

Mustafa Khalil
Translated by: Hejar Abbo

The sports sector in Tabqqa city witnessed a significant deterioration during ISIS’ control of the city in 2014, and the organization used a policy of banning and Prohibiting all sports, which prompted many athletes to leave sports and fitness for fear of ISIS penalties, and stadiums and gyms were destroyed and vandalized.

Athletes were able to restore sports life since the defeat of the organization in 2017 in Tabqqa, where the subsequent years of the liberation of Tabqqa witnessed unprecedented sports activity in terms of rehabilitating facilities and holding sports tournaments, in addition to the return of athletes to participate actively and enthusiastically.

Hassan Al-Ahmad, the co-chair of the Sports Federation in Tabqqa, told Aso News Network, “The start of work on activating sports in Tabqqa started from the rehabilitation of sports facilities and stadiums in the region in order to be a moral motive for the return of sports activity, as the Sports City Stadium was equipped and during the coming period.”

In terms of weeding, it will be ready to receive external matches, Al-Ghaz, Al-Sad stadium and Russ, in addition to establishing a hall for table tennis, chess, basketball and other activities.”

Al-Ahmad explained that the results were tangible, and were reflected in the great demand by the people for sports, whether they were athletes or fans, he said.

He also showed that attracting sports elites of both sexes and from different groups (men, youth, and juniors) in all sports, and their participation in them at the level of Tabqqa, North-East Syria, or at the country level, is a remarkable indicator of the return of life to sports in Tabqqa.

The sports sector witnessed a wide and effective participation of women in the past period, and the presence of the female component in sports was very weak in the past, as ISIS prohibited women from practicing sports during the period of its control over the region, but now women’s teams have been formed for volleyball and table tennis and chess, and a women’s gymnasium was equipped.

Preparations are underway to participate in championships in the North-East of Syria, and to license clubs to participate in upcoming tournaments in all sports, according to what “Al-Ahmad” reported.

While the football player “Basel Al-Deeb” from the city of Tabqqa, said that the conditions that the athletes lived in during the time of ISIS were very difficult, as they practiced sports secretly and in private places, away from the eyes of the organization’s members who prohibited sports, “for fear of their oppression.” As described.

At the present time, athletes practice all sports with complete freedom, and sports activity has returned to the city of Tabqqa better even than the period before ISIS took control of the region.

Good equipment is available in the stadiums, which hosted matches and leagues held in the region and attracted thousands of sports fans, according to Al-Deeb.

The city of Tabqqa suffered like other areas during the control of the terrorist organization ISIS between 2014 and 2017, and the city was damaged in all respects under the organization’s rule.