global.streetfootballworld - Peres Center for Peace held its annual Mini World ...
Peres Center for Peace held its annual Mini World Cup
written on: 07-05-2008
A few days ago, on April 28th, for the fifth year running, streetfootballworld Network Member Peres Center for Peace held its annual Mini World Cup - the highlight of the year for the participants of the "Twinned Peace Football Schools" programme. This year the event was sponsored by the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in celebration of the upcoming Olympic Games to be held in China this summer.
400 Israeli and Palestinian children aged between 6 and 13 competed to win the final and prizes including: 'Man/Woman of the Match', 'King/Queen of the Goals' and Fair player'.
The youngsters were divided according to their age groups and each team was made up of 5 Palestinian children and 5 Israeli children playing under the banner of different countries. From the moment they received their T-shirt with the name of their assigned country they became united as one group and with one goal – to win!
The referees were Palestinian and Israeli coaches and members of the Peres Center's Australian Rules Football team who gave a demonstration of their skills at the end of the competition.
The Peres Center for Peace was honoured to host many Ambassadors and representatives, from Britain, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Peru, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, the Netherlands, Turkey and Norway, who came to offer their support and encouragement which greatly enhanced the colourful and friendly atmosphere. Especially the representatives from the British Embassy in Tel Aviv and the Consulate in Jerusalem came prepared with flags and a lot of motivation to encourage the England team.
During the tournament, the children who were waiting for their turn to play enjoyed a Darbuka (drumming) demonstration and a show by Eyal Horn – the bouncing ball man.
Israeli Government Minister of Sport, Science and Culture Raleb Majadla attended to offer his support. He met with Yossi Haimov, a child from Sderot, and a member of the Sderot "Twinned Peace Football Schools" project, who was injured by a Qassam rocket in February. Yossi arrived with his father, coming straight from the rehabilitation department in Tel HaShomer hospital so that he could watch his friends from the project playing together.
For the final awards ceremony, Dr Ron Pundak, Director General of the Peres Center for Peace, Mr. Bassam Aramin, Chairman of the Al Quds Association of Democracy and Dialogue, ambassadors and famous football players from Maccabi Haifa presented the awards
MATCH RESULTS
GIRLS COMPETITION
First Place USA (Kiriyat Gat, Bet Safafa, Hebron, Kiryat Ekron)
Runner-Up GERMANY (Kiriyat Gat, Bet Safafa, Hebron, Kiriyat Ekron)
BOYS COMPETITION
Classes A & B –
First place - HOLLAND (Sderot-Tulkarm)
Runner-Up SLOVENIA (Kiriyat Ekron – Ein Rafa)
Classes C & D-
First Place ITALY (Kiriyat Gat – Beit Safafa)
Runner-up NORWAY (Beit Shemesh – Jericho)
Classes E & F-
First Place ENGLAND (Kiriyat Gat – Beit Safafa)
Second Place SOUTH KOREA (Yerucham- Bethlehem
Classes G & H-
First Place SPAIN (Yerucham – Bethlehem)
Runner-up HOLLAND (Kiriyat Gat – Bet Safafa)
The Peres Center for Peace
Josie
Stein
Tel Aviv
(
Israel
)
Telephone
:
+972 35680637
j.stein@peres-center.org
|
http://www.peres-center.org
