STORY: Yemeni athletes with disabilities defy challenges of conflicts
DATELINE: June 30, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:01
LOCATION: Sanaa
CATEGORY: SPORTS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of disabled girls playing wheelchair basketball
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): JASMINE BASIR, Wheelchair Basketball Player
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): AMAL HAZAA, Event Organizer

STORYLINE:

The Para Sports Festival for people with disabilities kicked off Thursday in Yemen, drawing the participation of 73 men and women athletes, competing in 11 sports, including sitting volleyball, wheelchair basketball and table tennis.

Organized by the Yemeni Paralympic Committee for People with Disabilities, the event seeks to enhance the quality of life and foster social inclusion for disabled individuals.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): JASMINE BASIR, Wheelchair Basketball Player
"Our presence here today is a powerful statement to the community. We want to emphasize that we, too, have the right to engage in sports just like able-bodied individuals. Additionally, we aim to highlight that there are certain games we excel at, which may even surpass the abilities of those without disabilities."

Amal Hazza, an acting member of the Paralympic Committee, highlighted the significance of sports for individuals with disabilities.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): AMAL HAZAA, Event Organizer
"This sport is very important for people with disabilities, both physically and socially, as it brings them out of the isolation in which they live into society, as well as giving them a healthy benefit by strengthening and developing their healthy condition."

Yemen's harsh reality of prolonged wars and conflicts has left behind a haunting legacy of tens of thousands of landmines scattered across the nation. These lethal remnants pose a severe threat to civilian lives.

Reports from humanitarian organizations have depicted Yemen as one of the largest landmine battlefields since World War II.

Yemen has been embroiled in a devastating civil war since 2014, with the Houthis fighting against the internationally-recognized Yemeni government.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Sanaa.
(XHTV)