Parkour Among Syria’s Ruins

A group of Syrian teenagers use the remnants of war to swing through abandoned buildings, balance over destructed rooftops, and hurdle over disfigured pavement. In east Aleppo, there are minimal resources and a lack of safety measures to protect athletes who wish to engage in the sport. This often times increases risk for serious injuries, however, this group of youth prove that the value of freedom and love for the sport is worth the risk.

It’s a staple of thrill-seeking internet videos: Daredevils making perilous leaps and insane stunts and hitting dangerous landings across impossible urban landscapes. But to perform parkour in Aleppo, amid the added challenge of years worth of remnants of Syria’s civil war? These Syrian youths practice the ultimate X game—without special facilities and equipment, such as padding to protect against falls, risking serious injury.