STORY: Syrian athletes aspire for Paris 2024, pinning hopes on show jumping, weightlifting
SHOOTING TIME: July 23, 2024
DATELINE: July 24, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:58
LOCATION: Damascus
CATEGORY: SPORTS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the conference
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (ARABIC): ALAA KHAWAJA JI, Member of Executive Office of Syrian General Sports Federation
3. various of the conference
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (ARABIC): AMRO HAMSHO, Equestrian
5. various of Syrian weightlifter Maen Asaad
6. SOUNDBITE 3 (ARABIC): MAEN ASSAD, Weightlifter
7. various of Syrian weightlifter Maen Asaad training

STORYLINE:

Syrian athletes are preparing and looking to raise their country's flag on the podiums at the Paris Olympic Games with high hopes pinned on show jumping and weightlifting, according to the country's General Sport Federation.

The Games, set to kick off on July 26 and run until Aug. 11, will see six Syrian athletes competing in disciplines including show jumping, weightlifting over 109kg, 200m freestyle swimming, gymnastics, 100m sprint, and judo under 73kg.

During a press conference in Damascus on Tuesday, Alaa Khawaja Ji, a member of the Executive Office of the Syrian General Sports Federation, expressed confidence in the country's top athletes.

SOUNDBITE 1 (ARABIC): ALAA KHAWAJA JI, Member of Executive Office of Syrian General Sports Federation
"Our primary hopes are our world champion Maen Asaad in weightlifting and our world-class equestrian, Amro Hamsho. We wish the delegation all the best."

SOUNDBITE 2 (ARABIC): AMRO HAMSHO, Equestrian
"The participants in the Olympics are the top 75 riders globally, and they have a very good chance of winning medals. As for our chances, we, as Syrian equestrians, have always been participants in championships in Asia or the Mediterranean. We are present and competitive in every championship we participate in, and hopefully, we can compete in these Olympics as well."

SOUNDBITE 3 (ARABIC): MAEN ASSAD, Weightlifter
"Many champions were ready to participate and win medals at their level but were not successful. So, I believe it's too early to talk about winning. We hope to deliver a performance worthy of our country. Things are going well now, and hopefully, we will be fully prepared by the time of participation."

Syria's Olympic history has witnessed four medals: a silver in wrestling by Joseph Atiyah in Los Angeles 1984, a gold in heptathlon by Ghada Shouaa in Atlanta 1996, a bronze in boxing by Nasser Al-Shami in Athens 2004, and a bronze in weightlifting by Maen Asaad in Tokyo 2020.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Damascus.
(XHTV)