Reference :
V-P-AF-E-02120
Date :
10/05/2014
Caption :
Kabul, ICRC orthopedic center, gymnasium. Afghan national para-olympic basketball team training for the tournament in Italy.
Confidentiality level :
public
Publication restrictions :
publication without restrictions
Description :
ICRC web site 19.05.2014: Afghanistan’s wheelchair basketball team have only been playing together for four years and became a national team just a year ago. Despite this fact, there seem to be no limits to the players’ ambitions and dedication to their sport as they travel to Italy to compete internationally for the first time. It was the combined effects of dedicated ICRC staff, affordable, appropriately-adapted wheelchairs produced by Motivation, a British charity, and the inspiration of a professional basketball trainer, that has made the programme the success it is today. The players, who are all patients or staff at ICRC physical rehabilitation centres, come from all corners of Afghanistan. They started playing together in 2010. A year ago a national team was formed under the auspices of the Afghan para-olympic committee, supported by the ICRC.
For people who watched the team in recent days training with their coach, Jess Markt, the tension and excitement were almost palpable. For Farhad, Shapoor, Nasrullah and Saber, four of the 15 players going to Italy, the upcoming challenge is beyond their wildest dreams.
Original material :
digital
Resolution :
4272x2848
Orientation :
landscape
Colour/B&W :
colour
