By Sgt. Whitney Houston
Multi-National Division – Baghdad
BAGHDAD – Brilliant smiles and celebration broke out in Baghdad's Hai Al-Adel community as its newly renovated sports club reopened to the public, Dec. 3.
A few months ago, the Al-Adel Sports Club was an old run-down building with only one functional weight room. Confronted by the dilapidated facility, coalition forces and local contractors decided it to be a worthy endeavor of the Commanders Emergency Relief Fund and struck up a deal to reconstruct the gym.
"The Al-Adel Sports club was a pretty run down building, it had holes in the walls, in the ceilings, all the glass was in pretty bad shape and the only thing in use was the weight room," said Capt. Kelly Lanphere, a native of Santa Fe, N.M., serving with the 4th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, attached to 2nd (Heavy) Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad.
"It just needed a lot of stuff, in fact, more than we could provide. We chose to focus on the main building which ended up costing $117,600 of CERP funds."
The unsullied building will provide an opportunity of an active lifestyle through an array of sports training offered. The gym will also engage youth in meaningful activities, keeping them aloof of wayward influences that exist throughout Baghdad.
"Basketball, volleyball, handball, indoor and outdoor soccer, taekwondo, weight training and body building will be available for youth and adults," said Lanphere.
"The idea behind these kinds of projects is to give them [the youth] something else to do, something to look forward to, occupy their time and promote a healthy lifestyle. There's a lot to be learned from sports. If they can involve themselves with the teams, they'll learn some key things that will help them stay away from crime."
As the crime rate has reduced significantly throughout Baghdad the people have gained a sense of normalcy and general happiness allowing these types of community improved contracts to be set in motion.
"Because of the improvement in security we were able to establish contracts and see these projects through," said overseer and local contractor Samir Sabar.
"When the people heard about it, it made them very excited because the building was old and run down, and they were very happy to know they were going to get a new building."
The project took about two and a half months to accomplish which entailed renovating a gym, rewiring and replacing the lighting systems for the soccer field and basketball court, painting, replacing the air conditioning units, a new bathroom equipped with showers; doors and windows were replaced, as well as new walkways, explained Civil Engineer Nima Alsiegh, native of Los Angeles, Calif., who has overseen the entire project from start to finish.
There was no room for doubt that the community appreciated the undertaking, simultaneously felt by those involved in the project with the welcoming reception from the locals at the reopening.
"It feels good to help out, and give these people a chance at living a normal life," Lanphere said.
"They don't have the things we get to enjoy and this gives them a little taste of what it's like to have decent facilities, and an opportunity to take an interest in their health, enjoyment and become a better people," he added.
