Baghdad has a pretty rough past but a new skate park is popping up and it’s a game-changer for the youth.
After years of dealing with the memories of violence and chaos, these kids have been lacking safe spaces to just be themselves and have fun. But now, this skate park is here and it feels like a fresh start for many.
It’s nestled in the Ministry of Youth and Sports complex near Al-Shaab International Stadium and came to life thanks to a partnership between the Iraqi government and some international buddies, including Germany and France.
It was all built in just three weeks, proving that great things can happen when everyone works together.
This park is more than a place to skate; it’s about taking back space and finding a voice. The local skaters hope that this new spot will help form a national skating federation, opening doors for Iraqi skateboarders to hit up international competitions, including the Olympics.
One of the coolest things about the skate park is how it’s inspiring female skaters, even with the challenges they face. Rusul Azim, 23, showed up in her hijab and sportswear, filled with hopes of competing internationally now that there’s a place to train. “I really want to compete now that we finally have a space,” she said.
In Iraq, women often deal with pushback when trying out activities like skateboarding, which some folks see as dangerous or not suitable.
But Azim believes this new park will motivate more women to jump into the sport. Another skater, 27-year-old Zainab Nabil, attended despite her family not being on board. “I’m here to prove that women can skate too,” she said. She hopes the park will eventually set up days just for female skaters, so more girls can feel comfortable joining in.
While the skate park might be small now, it has the potential to become something bigger, representing a major step forward for youth culture in Iraq.
The hope is that this skate park will kick off even more creative spaces for young Iraqis, fostering community and self-expression in a city that's working hard to rebuild its future.