President Al-Assad and Mrs. Asma Al-Assad attend “Homeland Wounded” Games competitions and confirm that wounded man is the priority

President Bashar Al-Assad and Mrs. Asma Al-Assad attended a basketball match within the competitions of the second day of the Second Paralympics’ Games for the wounded of the homeland held in Damascus.

In an interview with the participants, President Al-Assad said: Congratulations to all the participating teams, congratulations for winning. Of course I do not mean winning the final prizes, because the tournament is not over yet, but by winning I mean the ability of each wounded person to reach this level so that he can participate in the tournament.  Mere participation is a victory in itself, it is  both a physical and psychological victory. It is  victory of man over himself, man’s superiority over himself. So  each of you participating in this type of tournament is in itself a crowning success regardless of the results of the coronation during the tournament.

President Al-Assad added: My wife and I are here with you, and we were watching the match with enthusiasm and pride  for  each and every single one of you, and with admiration for the technical and fitness level you have attained. We saw clearly what the words “able” and “empowered” wounded mean. We know that the Wounded Homeland program aims to reach a “Capable Wounded”, but today we did not see a slogan; we saw an application of it  in reality. You have succeeded in various fields of life and you realized a distinguished social presence, and your achievement is a continuation of your success in combat and in defense of the homeland. So no matter how intense the war or subsided, the wounded remains the most important title for us and the first priority. The wounded are a role model and a symbol  of patriotism.

“When the homeland needed you in the battlefield of war, you came without hesitation, and when the homeland needed you in the battleground of life, you also came without hesitation. You are a model of a person who has conquered the impossible. You provide a model of hope for people who have turned to despair, and a model of challenge to people who were dominated by internal psychological defeat. So today we are not here to encourage you in the match, the truth is we are here to derive strength and courage from you, so that I and the rest of the Syrian citizens can reach and rise to the level that you have reached, and that we may possess a part of what you possess of strength, will and determination,” President Al-Assad confirmed.

President al-Assad concluded his speech by saying: “Great thanks for the tremendous efforts made by the cadres of the “Homeland Wounded” Project in the country, who have truly proven that our wounded man is capable of being advanced when circumstances are created for him, and when the doors of various opportunities are opened for him. Therefore, I believe that what we saw previously and what we see today confirms our support for this project, and God willing we will support it more.  Supporting this project is  essential  to advancing  the progress of the wounded in various professional and personal fields.

132 wounded athletes, champions of special sports, and wounded athletes from Iraq will participate in the tournament.

Inas Abdulkareem