New York, May 20 (SANA) Syria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ibrahim Olabi, said the Syrian people regained their homeland and right to a normal life after years of suffering, expressing confidence that Syria’s national football team would “surprise the world” in future competitions.
In remarks delivered before the UN General Assembly during an event marking World Football Day, and published by Syria’s permanent mission to the United Nations in New York on X on Wednesday, Olabi said: “The fact that Syria is speaking today on World Football Day is itself evidence that Syria has started returning to its natural place among nations.”
“The people who once chanted in the streets demanding freedom against the deposed regime are today chanting in stadiums in support of their teams, and the children who once ran to escape shelling or arrest under the ousted regime are now, despite the challenges posed by mines and destruction, running after the ball,” he added.
Olabi pointed out that the joys and sorrows of Syrians are no longer linked to the fear of bombing or the loss of loved ones in prisons, but have become linked to the results of the sports teams they support, considering this transformation to be the fruit of the great sacrifices made by Syrians to liberate their country and restore their right to a normal life.
“As I often hear from colleagues at the UN that the Syrian people surprised the world during recent months, we are confident our national team will surprise the world as well in upcoming matches and tournaments,” Olabi said.
He added that the team would seek to secure “a place for the new Syria in the next World Cup.”
Olabi concluded by referring to Mount Qasioun overlooking Damascus, saying it had “endured through the darkest circumstances” before emerging victorious.
“Until the time comes for our national team to start winning again, the Syrian people today can proudly say: We have won back our homeland once again,” he said.
World Football Day is observed annually on 25 May under a UN General Assembly resolution adopted in 2024 recognizing the sport’s role in promoting peace, tolerance and cooperation among peoples.
MHD
