The First Sports Festival took place between Oct. 5 and Nov. 4 in the Free Syrian Army-controlled Eastern Ghouta area, in Rif Dimashq province, despite the tight siege and shelling that 400,000 residents are subjected to.
More than 1,100 participants across all age groups took part in 17 sports activities, which included track and field, wrestling, equestrian, soccer and basketball, despite the shelling and crimes by the Russian and Syrian regime air raids. The war imposed on the Eastern Ghouta cities and towns halted the festival between Oct. 12-15 and destroyed some stadiums and civilian festival locations in Harasta, Saqba and Arbin.
