War victims find new life in sports

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Source: CCTV.com | 09-16-2008 13:27

Unlike most of volleyball teams at the Paralympics, the group from Bosnia Herzegovina is largely composed of war victims. They've suffered injuries on the battlefield or been hit by land mines.

In the final of the men's competition, Bosnia Herzegovina  finished second to Iran, but the significance of their  medals goes far beyond the Games.

In the final of the men's competition, Bosnia Herzegovina finished second to Iran, but the significance of their medals goes far beyond the Games.

It was the final match of men's sitting volleyball. The two strongest teams from Iran and Bosnia and Herzegovina were competing for the gold medal. For the players of the Bosnia and Herzegovina, this was the game of their lives.

Coach Mirza Hrustemovic, the founder of the team, said sitting volleyball has been popular in his country as a result of war. Many disabled people there are war wounded. For example, in this team, 7 of them used to be soldiers and four were civilians injured by unidentified mines.

Mirza Hrustemovic said, "All the best things are very simple, you can't give up at the first, second or third step. You need to continue to do something, and love the things you are doing. Then, sometimes, good things will start to happen."