Adhamiyah's al Talaba Sports Complex opens

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Whitney Houston | Capt. John Spencer, native of Richmond, Ind., who serves with the 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, gives a bag full of new soccer balls to Iraqi children, Jan. 9, during the opening of the newly renovated al Talaba Sports Complex, which is located in the Adhamiyah District of Baghdad.  

IRAQ

01.10.2009

Story by Sgt. Whitney Houston 

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

By Sgt. Whitney Houston
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

QAHIRA, Iraq – After the doldrums of any circumstance, hope is restored in new beginnings.

In the Qahira community, which lies within the Adhamiyah District of Baghdad, the Talaba Sports Center was reopened to the public, Jan. 9, after an extensive refurbishing project that coalition forces and Iraqis undertook to improve the impoverished Shi'a neighborhood.

"When we took over this area, we assessed all of the areas to see what nonlethal missions we could conduct to fight off a lethal threat. And what we did was target an area that we thought needed the most help," said Capt. John Spencer, a Richmond, Ind., native, serving with 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad.

He said Qahira is an important neighborhood because it contains a preponderance of lower-income Shi'a and had, at one time, a substantial militia that campaigned against the government of Iraq.

Opening a sport center, such as this, he explained, will have a huge impact on the community, which helps to counteract propaganda.

"If you create just a little bit of happiness for them, you'll create a lot of happiness within the community, which shows forward progression toward a better life," Spencer said.

The Talaba Sports Complex was a huge undertaking. The refurbishment was funded through the Commanders Emergency Relief Program, and manpower was provided by area residents.

The project included repairing the gym floor, roof, stadium seating, kitchen, bathrooms, locker rooms, light fixtures, electrical systems and the parking area. The scope of work also included cosmetic issues, such as painting and cleaning the inside and outside walls.

"The project ended up costing $187,300 of CERP funds and took approximately 60 days to finish the project," said 1st Lt. Brendan McNichol, native of Morris, Conn., who serves with the 1-68 AR, 3rd BCT.

Among the facility's amenities, said Spencer, is a basketball court that can also be used as an indoor soccer arena. It is one of two gyms in the area that measures up to Olympic standards.

The sport center, which will be used predominantly by six schools in the area, is open to children of all ages. The complex, he added, has been well received by residents of the area.

"There are approximately 80,000 residents that live in Qahira, and this is the only sports complex in the area," said Muhammad Madlom, the Neighborhood Advisory Council chairman, "So, it is a good achievement for coalition forces – and it is good they focus on and care about sports for youth because these guys are the future of this country. It will have a huge psychological impact on them as well as influence them for the good as they participate in sports,"

• Date Taken: 01.10.2009
• Date Posted: 01.10.2009 10:37
• Story ID: 28693
• Location: IQ