and because it's not far help them, and because it's not far away from my hometown where i grew up, i want to help as well, so for me, it's very important to support than anti—gave them little bit of help. i know it's for the people who lost almost everything. it's hard from one day to the next. your friends are not there, may be lost when your family members. friends are not there, may be lost when yourfamily members. i do know, your home, all these things. so it's hard to support but i think for us all, it is still a good time to support them. normally it's far away where things like that happen, but now they are neck steel, so it was just very strange and horrible to watch at. and i know the area very well. i grew up there. i know the

city. i know the area around it, so it was very tough and very horrible all two cds pictures. so we decided to make 100 of these boots, one boots i would wear in the game against arsenal. i play football, that's what i like, what i love. that the public as may be the symbol that i show my support to them, and those who lost pets and animals, so it's all very hard, anything is also a topic for me to get into the next couple of years because, i think, we are humans and we can change it we can maybe help. still are humans and we can change it we can maybe help-— can maybe help. still to come on sportsday- -- _ there's an emotional return to leeds rhinos for rob burrow. and it's still a long way to wembley, but we'll be live at the worlds oldest club ahead of their fa cup prelimiary round tie.

the paralympics start on tuesday. 0ur reporter sally hurst has spoken to a number of athletes before they flew out to tokyo — today we hear from two members of the gb rowing squad — ellen buttrick making her paralympic debut with the mixed coxed four and laurence whiteley who's looking to defend the gold he won in the mixed double scull in rio. congratulations press pop. he must be thrilled. this is your oppressed paralympics. has quite sunk in yet? now. it's been a long time coming. sojust really now. it's been a long time coming. so just really excited to get out there. �* , ., , so just really excited to get out there. �*, ., , , so just really excited to get out there. �*, ., i, , .,, so just really excited to get out there. it's only seven years since he been diagnosed _ there. it's only seven years since he been diagnosed with - there. it's only seven years since he been diagnosed with your - there. it's only seven years since he been diagnosed with your eyej he been diagnosed with your eye condition. so how extraordinary does appeal to you it to be getting on that plane to tokyo? it’s appeal to you it to be getting on that plane to tokyo?— that plane to tokyo? it's a bit of an overwhelming _ that plane to tokyo? it's a bit of an overwhelming feeling. - that plane to tokyo? it's a bit of an overwhelming feeling. i - that plane to tokyo? it's a bit ofj an overwhelming feeling. i think when i was diagnosed with i was 19, except this is a goal for myself to go to a paralympic games, and the fact that i'm actually achieving

that goal is very overwhelming. i'm not sure how i will deal with that in tokyo, but hopefully i will race well and then i can deal with the emotion afterwards. you well and then i can deal with the emotion afterwards.— well and then i can deal with the emotion afterwards. you are going in this time as — emotion afterwards. you are going in this time as defending _ emotion afterwards. you are going in this time as defending champion. - emotion afterwards. you are going in this time as defending champion. so| this time as defending champion. so is that a different kind of pressure?— is that a different kind of pressure? is that a different kind of ressure? , , , , ., , pressure? yes, definitely puts a bit of a tar: et pressure? yes, definitely puts a bit of a target on _ pressure? yes, definitely puts a bit of a target on her _ pressure? yes, definitely puts a bit of a target on her back. _ pressure? yes, definitely puts a bit of a target on her back. and - pressure? yes, definitely puts a bit of a target on her back. and we - pressure? yes, definitely puts a bit. of a target on her back. and we have the luxury— of a target on her back. and we have the luxury of— of a target on her back. and we have the luxury of being unknown in rio. it the luxury of being unknown in rio. it definitely — the luxury of being unknown in rio. it definitely played to our advantage, and we will not have that luxury— advantage, and we will not have that luxury this _ advantage, and we will not have that luxury this time around. going to this event— luxury this time around. going to this event is paralympic rather than european _ this event is paralympic rather than european champion. so, yeah, a lot of expectation from a lot for us to live up— of expectation from a lot for us to live up tilt — of expectation from a lot for us to live up till-— live up till. and your distance has doubled, hasn't _ live up till. and your distance has doubled, hasn't a? _ live up till. and your distance has doubled, hasn't a? so _ live up till. and your distance has doubled, hasn't a? so what - live up till. and your distance has l doubled, hasn't a? so what impact has that had on your preparation and training? has that had on your preparation and trainin: ? ,, ., . ., , training? quite a few challenges. five ears training? quite a few challenges. five years for _ training? quite a few challenges. five years forjust _ training? quite a few challenges. five years forjust the _ training? quite a few challenges. five years forjust the training . training? quite a few challenges. five years forjust the training to | five years forjust the training to compensate. it's great to bring us in line _ compensate. it's great to bring us in line with — compensate. it's great to bring us in line with our olympic counterparts. doubled the race distance. — counterparts. doubled the race distance, double the race time, not

a fan, _ distance, double the race time, not a fan. not _ distance, double the race time, not a fan. not a — distance, double the race time, not a fan, not a fan. twice the pain double — a fan, not a fan. twice the pain double the _ a fan, not a fan. twice the pain double the distance.— double the distance. how are you feelin: double the distance. how are you feeling about _ double the distance. how are you feeling about the _ double the distance. how are you feeling about the covid _ double the distance. how are you feeling about the covid side - double the distance. how are you feeling about the covid side of. double the distance. how are you l feeling about the covid side of your first paralympics? it's not the parents he probably dreamt up. it's going to have a very different feel to it, isn't that? with no spectators. how are you feeling about the? are you anxious about anything at all? i about the? are you anxious about anything at all?— anything at all? i have complete confidence _ anything at all? i have complete confidence in _ anything at all? i have complete confidence in the _ anything at all? i have complete confidence in the tokyo - anything at all? i have complete - confidence in the tokyo organisation committee. they have thought of every scenario and they have made it as easy as possible for us so that all we have to carry about is the railing. it will be different, but it is still... railing. it will be different, but it is still. . ._ it is still... i'm afraid we are interrunting _ it is still... i'm afraid we are interrupting this _ it is still... i'm afraid we are interrupting this sports - it is still... i'm afraid we are i interrupting this sports bulletin it is still... i'm afraid we are - interrupting this sports bulletin to join president biden addressing the nation for the second time this week on afghanistan. mi; for the second time this week on afghanistan-— for the second time this week on afghanistan. my security adviser, solvin: afghanistan. my security adviser, solving from _ afghanistan. my security adviser, solving from other— afghanistan. my security adviser, solving from other members - afghanistan. my security adviser, solving from other members of. solving from other members of national security leadership team, the situation room, to discuss our ongoing efforts to evacuate american citizens. third country civilians, afghan allies and vulnerable

afghans. we want to provide the american people with a brief update on the situation in afghanistan. since i spoke to on monday, we have made significant progress. we have secured the airport, enabling flights to resume. notjust military flights, but civilian charters and from other countries and the ngos taking out civilians and vulnerable afghan civilians. we now have almost 6000 troops on the ground, including the 82nd airborne, providing runway security. the army tenth mountain division standing guard around the airport. the 24th marine expedition units the billing —— assisting in the civilian departure. this is one of the largest and most difficult and less in history. and the only country in the world capable of projecting this much power on the far side of the world with this degree of precision is the united states of america. we have already evacuated more than 18,000 people

sincejuly and approximately 13,000 since july and approximately 13,000 sincejuly and approximately 13,000 since our military airlift began on august the 14th. thousands more have been evacuated and private charter flights facilitated by the us government will stop these numbers include american citizens and permanent residents as well as their families. it includes siv applicants and theirfamilies. thus families. it includes siv applicants and their families. thus afghans who have worked alongside us, served alongside us, gone into combat with us and provided invaluable assistance to such as translators and interpreters. the united states stands by its commitment that we made to these people, and that includes other vulnerable afghans such as women leaders and journalists. in fact, working in" nation with the management of the new york times, the washington post and the wall streetjournal, we have successfully evacuated to all 201i in place in afghanistan us military aircraft earlier this week. we've

established the flow of flights and we have increased the number of people we are moving out of the country. the flights in kabul a few hours this morning to make sure we can process the arriving evacuees at the transit points. but our commander in kabul has already given the orderfor outbound commander in kabul has already given the order for outbound flights to resume. even with the pies, we have moved out 5700 evacuees yesterday, and we are working on a variety of ways to confirm that number, we don't have the exact number of people, the americans who are there. and those who may have come home to the united states. we want to get a strong number as to exactly how many people are there, how many american citizens, and where they are. just yesterday, among the many americans we evacuated, 169 americans who we got over the wall into the airport using military assets. we are also

facilitating flights for our allies and our partners and we are getting close organisational cooperation with nato on this evacuation. for example, we have provided overwatch for the french convoy bringing hundreds of people from the french embassy to the airport. these operations are going to continue over the coming days before we complete our drawdown. we are going to do everything, everything that we can to provide sake —— safe evacuation for afghan allies and partners and afghans who might be targeted because of their association with the united states. let me be clear. any american who wants to come home, we will get you home. make no mistake, this evacuation mission is dangerous. it involves risks to our armed forces, and it's being conducted under difficult circumstances. i cannot

promise but the final outcome will be, or what it will be without risk of loss. as commander—in—chief, i can ensure that i will mobilise every resource necessary, and as an american, i offer my gratitude to the brave men and women of the us armed forces for carrying out this mission. they are incredible. as we continue to work on the logistics and evacuation, we are in constant contact with the tally band, working to ensure civilians have safe passage to the airport. we are particularly focused on our engagements on making sure every american who wants to leave can get to the airport. where we have been seen challenges of americans for americans we have thus far been able to resolve them. we made clear to the taliban that any attack, any attack on our forces or disruption of our operations at the airport

will be met with swift and forceful response. we are also keeping a close watch on any potential terrorist threats at or around the airports, including from the isis affiliates in afghanistan who were released from prison when the prisons were emptied. and because they are, by the way, to make it up he understands, the isis in afghanistan have been the sworn enemy of the taliban. i have said all along, we are going to retain a laserfocus on our all along, we are going to retain a laser focus on our counterterrorism mission, working in close great nation with our allies and partners. and all those who have an interest in ensuring stability in the region. secretary blink and is with me today. we met this morning with our nato allies in consultation about the way forward. so that afghanistan cannot be used in the future as a terrorist base of attack to attack the united states or our allies. for

20 years, afghanistan has been a joint effort with our nato allies. we went in together, and we are leaving together. and now we are working together to bring our people and our afghan partners to safety. the past few days, i have also spoken directly to the british prime minister, mrjohnson, chancellor merkel of germany, and present macron of france. we all agreed that we should convene and will convene the g7 meeting next week, a group of the g7 meeting next week, a group of the worlds leading democracies so that together we can co—ordinate our mutual approach, that together we can co—ordinate our mutualapproach, our that together we can co—ordinate our mutual approach, our united approach in afghanistan and moving forward. we are united with our closest partners to execute the mission at hand. we have also discussed the need to work with the international community to provide humanitarian assistance such as food aid and medical care for refugees who have crossed into neighbouring countries

to escape the taliban. and to bring international pressure on the taliban with respect to the treatment of afghan people over all, but including afghan, particularly women and girls. the past week has been heartbreaking. we have seen that wrenching images of panicked people, acting out of sheer desperation. you know, it's completely understandable. they are frightened. they are sad. uncertain about what happens next. i don't think anyone, i don't think anyone of us can see these pictures and not feel that pain on a human level. now we have a mission, a mission to complete in afghanistan. it's incredibly difficult and dangerous operation for our military. we have almost 6000 of america's finest fighting men and women at the kabul airport. we are putting their lives on the line, and they are doing it ina

on the line, and they are doing it in a dangerous place to save other americans, ourafghan in a dangerous place to save other americans, our afghan allies and citizens of our allies who went in with us. i talked... i talked to our commanders on the ground there every single day. as ijust did a few hours ago an hour or so ago. i made it clear to them that we will get them whatever they need to do the job. they are performing to the highest standard under extraordinary difficult and dynamic circumstances. our nato allies are strongly standing with us. their troops keeping centrale on—site hours and kabul. as is the case whenever i deploy our troops into harms way, i take that responsibility seriously. i carry that burden every day, just as i did when i was vice president and my son was deployed in iraq. there will be plenty of time to criticise and second—guess when this

operation is over, but now, now, i am focused on getting this job done. i would ask every american to join me in praying for the women and men risking their lives on the ground in the service of our nation. as events evolve over the coming days, my team and i will continue to share the information and update the american people on exactly where things are. we will use every resource necessary to carry out the mission at hand and bring the safety of american citizens and our afghan allies. this is our focus now. citizens and our afghan allies. this is ourfocus now. and citizens and our afghan allies. this is our focus now. and when this is finished, we will complete our military withdrawal and finally bring to an end 20 years of american military action in afghanistan. thank you and may god bless our troops, our diplomats and all of those serving in harm's way, i will not take questions. ap, zeke miller.

do you promise to leave afghanistan, but also _ do you promise to leave afghanistan, but also to _ do you promise to leave afghanistan, but also to help bring up those who helped _ but also to help bring up those who helped america and its war effort. you've _ helped america and its war effort. you've seen the heart—wrenching images _ you've seen the heart—wrenching images of— you've seen the heart—wrenching images of people trying to but the people _ images of people trying to but the people who cannot get to that airport — people who cannot get to that airport. to get american citizens outi _ airport. to get american citizens out, will— airport. to get american citizens out, will you make the same commitment to those who assisted in the american war effort over the past 20 — the american war effort over the past 20 years, number one. number two, past 20 years, number one. number two. what _ past 20 years, number one. number two. what a — past 20 years, number one. number two, what a message to the partners around _ two, what a message to the partners around the _ two, what a message to the partners around the world who have criticised not the _ around the world who have criticised not the withdrawal but the conduct of that _ not the withdrawal but the conduct of that withdrawal and question america's credibility of the world stage? _ america's credibility of the world stage? i— america's credibility of the world sta . e? ., , ., america's credibility of the world staie? ., , ., , ., ., stage? i have seen no question of our credibility _ stage? i have seen no question of our credibility of _ stage? i have seen no question of our credibility of our _ stage? i have seen no question of our credibility of our allies - stage? i have seen no question of our credibility of our allies around j our credibility of our allies around the world. i've spoken with our allies, we have spoken with nato allies, we have spoken with nato allies in the secretary of state, our national security adviser within the context with the counterparts

around the world and our allies. as had