BEIRUT: Lebanon’s Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium sprang back to life on Friday after five years of disuse, as it hosted a Beirut derby match between Lebanese Premier League football teams Nejmeh and Al-Ansar.

Several leading political figures and other officials were among the crowd watching the game, which took place under the patronage of President Joseph Aoun and ended in a 1-1 draw.

One of them was Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who gave the signal to kick off the match at 4.45 p.m. local time. Others included Nora Bayrakdarian, minister of youth and sports; MP Wadah Al-Sadek; MP Nabil Badr, who is is also the president of Al-Ansar; and Hachem Haidar, president of the Lebanese Football Association. Their presence was seen as a clear indication of the new government’s commitment to engagement with and support for sports.

Bayrakdarian said of the renovated stadium, which was severely damaged in the 2020 Beirut Port explosion: “This is a unifying national symbol that has hosted international and national matches, uniting the Lebanese under one banner, far removed from divisions.”

The repair and reopening of the multiuse venue sends a “message to athletes that your dreams are safe, and to young people that you are a priority,” she added.

Ibrahim Zaazaa, a former Nejmeh player and coach, told Arab News: “This is an unprecedented achievement for Lebanese football. I hope such initiatives are applied across all other stadiums. It’s a great step for sports in general and football in particular.”

He thanked sporting and administrative authorities for their hard work to renovate and reopen the stadium at a time “when Lebanese football needs a distinguished renaissance to restore its glitziness and reputation,” in particular “through the most prominent competitors in the history of Lebanese football, Nejmeh and Al-Ansar.”

Abdel Fattah Chehab, a former player for Al-Ansar and the Lebanese national team, said the reopening of the stadium was a “step forward after years of abandonment.”

He called for similar projects to renovate and refurbish all stadiums in the country added: “I am 100 percent sure that such initiatives are important to develop the standard of Lebanese footballers.

“The fact that the two powerhouses (with the biggest fan bases) are the ones playing such an important game in this giant sporting complex following the major overhaul … will benefit football and footballers.”

Toufic Al-Turk, a fan of Nejmeh, said: “It is a great moment to see Beirut’s Sports City Stadium reopen and host the special derby between Nejmeh and Al-Ansar. This brings new energy to Lebanese football and gives a strong push to the whole sporting scene in Lebanon.”

Thousands of supporters of both clubs attended the match. Political chants could be heard coming from a small section of the fans.

In a message posted on social media platform X after the game, Prime Minister Salam said: “It was with great pleasure that I participated in bringing life back to Camille Chamoun Sports City, where sporting activities once again embody the spirit of unity and brotherhood among all.

“Sports are not just competition; they are a bridge that unites people of all affiliations, removing barriers and strengthening bonds of love and peace.”

Sports City Stadium, which has a capacity of 49,500 and is mostly used for football matches, was built in 1957 but completely destroyed during the 1982 invasion by Israel. Former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri initiated a project to rebuild it in preparation to host the 2000 AFC Asian Cup. The rebuilt venue also hosted the 1997 Pan Arab Games, the 1999 Arab Athletics Championship and, in April 2017, a Barcelona Legends vs. Real Madrid Legends football match. On Feb. 23 this year it was used for the funeral of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.