Damascus, SANA- On the grounds of Abbasiyyin Stadium in Damascus, the ousted regime extinguished the dreams of Syrian football enthusiasts. This sports landmark was transformed into a military stronghold, used to target civilians in numerous Damascus neighborhoods. It became a source of pain and sorrow for many years, as the war took its toll on both the city and its people.
SANA’s camera documented the damage inflicted on the stadium’s field, facilities, and sports halls, and interviewed several supervising staff members and residents living near the stadium.
Iyad Sultan, the stadium’s director, stated: “The Abbasiyyin Stadium is one of the oldest in Syria, established in 1957 and renovated twice, the last time being in 2011, just before the revolution began. Its stands can accommodate approximately 40,000 spectators, and it is the only stadium capable of hosting international matches. However, the former regime, driven by malice, turned it into a barren land unfit for any purpose.”
Sultan added: “The former regime worked to erase the history of one of Damascus’s oldest stadiums by converting it into a military barracks, erasing from the minds of sports enthusiasts that this place was once a source of joy for them. It became a nightmare for the residents of Damascus and its Ghouta region. The stadium now requires rehabilitation to return to its former glory, which demands concerted national and international efforts and coordination with sports experts.”
Fawwaz al-Muzyyen, a sports staff member who worked at the stadium and was injured in his hand during his duties, explained that the former regime could not hide the remnants of its war machine, which bore witness to its crimes by directing heavy artillery towards Eastern Ghouta.
Residents near the stadium also suffered from the regime’s brutality, witnessing its daily crimes. Dozens of rockets and shells were launched from the stadium every morning and evening in various directions. A nearby vegetable shop owner, who himself endured enough fear and terror, now suffers from various ailments, primarily nerve weakness.
Several sports federations have attempted, in words rather than actions, to restore the Abbasiyyin Stadium. They presented numerous studies aligned with the former regime’s wishes, but all their projects failed.
The stadium remains standing, despite the extensive damage it has endured, awaiting its return to the sporting activities it once hosted.
Ruaa al-Jazaeri
