More than a million people have been forced to flee their homes in southern Lebanon due to fighting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah. As many shelter in Beirut stadiums, sport is sometimes a welcome distraction.

Hassan Seif al-Din, a 65-year-old martial arts coach, fled from Dahiyeh to Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium, where he now lives in a tent. He began training children to help them forget the war. “There was so much bombing around us, so we escaped and ended up displaced here,” he told DW.

“I was training alone for two to three hours a day, and children watched me. I thought to bring them together and bring joy into their lives through sport,” Hassan said. Adnan, one of the children, said: “I love how the coach teaches us to defend myself and build confidence. If someone attacked me, I’d know how to defend myself.”

The stadium, home to Lebanon’s national football team, was destroyed during the 1982 Israeli invasion and rebuilt in 1990. In 2024, it hosted Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah’s funeral. Now it shelters thousands of displaced families.

Wael Chehayeb of the Lebanon Football Association said: “I am happy the stadium can shelter people, but it’s sad that a place that usually brings joy has to be used like this.”

Football clubs like Akhaa, Safa, and Nejmeh have volunteered to help displaced families, providing food and shelter at their facilities. Players interact with families to lift spirits.

Howaida Amin Mzannar, who fled from Aitaroun, said: “We have been suffering from the border situation for a long time. Now we are here, but it’s difficult not knowing where you will be tomorrow. There is solidarity among people; everyone is helping each other.”

Hassan plans to continue training children. “In a year and a half, I could make national champions out of them,” he said.

Source: www.dw.com