By Tom Degun

Haiti_soccer_teamDecember 14 - The Haitian men's amputee football team (pictured) is currently touring the United to spread the message that those with disabilities are capable of great things, if given the chance.


The Caribbean country made global headlines earlier this year after a devastating earthquake ripped it apart and left its sports system - along with everything else - in tatters.

The disaster, which occurred on January 12, killed an estimated 220,000 people and left over 180,000 homes and 5,000 schools either damaged or completely destroyed.

Around two million people were living in the area most affected and nearly all of them were made homeless as a result.

The country has also suffered a major cholera outbreak in recent months that has led to a further 1,000 deaths and many more sicknesses.

However, the football team is showing America its fighting spirit and in a trip organised by Dr Fred Sorrells, President of the International Institute of Sport (IIOS), has just visited the United States Sports Academy in Alabama.

Sorrells actually helped put Haiti's amputee football team together after the earthquake.

He was seeking a therapeutic way to help the disabled in Haiti when he discovered the Amputee World Cup being held in Argentina.

The team gained international recognition when it competed in the event in October.

With only a month of training before the first championship game, the world marvelled at the team's pure athletic ability and sheer determination.

They also look set to continue improving with the help of the United States Sports Academy - an independent, non-profit, accredited, special mission sports university created to serve the nation and the world with programmes in instruction, research and service.

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