Iraq pursues volleyball dream

[00:00.44] This group of young Iraqis shows how life is slowly returning to normal in Mosul,

[00:05.75] the country's second largest city, which was destroyed by the Islamic State and the war against the terror group.

[00:12.92] These athletes all lost limbs during the fighting, but they did not lose their will to survive and thrive.

[00:20.10] And now they play in a volleyball league designed for people with disabilities.

[00:28.33] I used to lead a normal life, just like everybody else during the Islamic State's occupation.

[00:33.38] One day, our house was bombed and I got wounded and was taken to hospital for about a month. Then I found this volleyball team in Mosul and decided to join them.

[00:46.94] Some are with prosthetic legs, others in wheelchairs. The players meet every day at Mosul and a loose hall to train and play in a country struggling on every front.

[00:57.55] The players credit this private volunteer initiative with providing them a meaning in their lives.

[01:04.46] I saw my colleagues were playing in this club for free and are very respectful of each other. They have a purpose.

[01:11.10] I realized I should be like them too and have a purpose. Thank god, everything is going very well, and I can say I'm a good player now.

[01:19.86] In addition to volleyball, the manager of the project says he's working on expanding it to other sports such as table tennis.

[01:28.63] To make the sports team sustainable in the long run, he said, he needs government support.

[01:34.20] This is the first team of its kind in the name of our province.

[01:38.99] We will continue to open new centers like this for the disabled, especially those who were impacted by the IS terror group's activities.

[01:47.22] Some players have set their sights on playing larger competitions on a global level.

[01:53.33] I hope I can become a better player and play higher level games for the Iraqi national team. If god is willing, I will get there.

[02:11.39] When they had done training for the day, the players have to change in the open on the court.

[02:16.97] Neither the lack of facilities nor their disabilities, however, has discouraged them from attempting to reach their potential.