Intro:

The women's Baghdad Volleyball League returned last week for the first time after a ten-year absence due to the turmoil that has been tearing up the country for years.

Script:

SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Naeemah Zidane, Baghdad Girls team manager

"People who are running the sports have no interest in volleyball and much less women's volleyball. Adding to all this you have the security situation in the country which is affecting the social order too, because people do not allow their girls out and if it wasn't for my direct contacts with the parents these girls who are my students and players, wouldn't be here"

SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Marwa Saadi, Baghdad Girls player.

"The reasons for the regression of women's volleyball are mainly due to the security situation in the country but also due to the fact that clubs do not play any international competitions , there is also another reason which is a family thing because lots of families do not encourage their girls to take up sports"