Soccer for peace

June 23-26 RTE Sport, FOX News, Sport Business

Sunday brings a close to this summer’s thrilling Euro Cup, an event that in its global appeal reminds us of the unifying power of soccer.  Even taking into account the sport’s competitive, and sometimes violent nature – two of Turkey’s players were sidelined Wednesday with head injuries, and Zidane’s infamous coup de tête in the 2006 World Cup will not be easily forgotten – soccer also has the capacity to bring people together, highlighted by recent events.

In July, the Football Association of Ireland will establish their “Football Village of Hope” in the Shfeya youth village in Israel.  It attempts to “foster new links” between Arab and Israeli children by encouraging the values of teamwork and cooperation.  Soccer was similarly used during the troubles in Northern Ireland to help reverse adversarial attitudes.  According to FAI president and “Football Village of Hope” coordinator Milo Corcoran, “I saw the co-operation between clubs from both sides of the [conflict] and I thought that if football can bring everybody together in Ireland, why can’t it do the same in the Middle East?”

Similarly, Soccer for Peace, a New York-based non-profit organization, coordinates soccer tournaments that bring together 10- and 11-year-old Israeli and Arab children in Israel.  The teams give these youths – and their families – the rare opportunity to work for the same goal.  “You see Jewish families and Arab families supporting the same team; they cheer for the same children. They come together and become friends, building trust and confidence,” noted Assaf Toledano, director of the Soccer for Peace partner Maccabim Association.

Soccer has proven equally capable of bridging other social divides beyond violent conflict.  This week, the Homeless World Cup will be hosting a qualifier in Washington, DC in order to select the US team to compete abroad.  Forty-eight nations were represented at last year’s competition, fielding teams comprised of over 500 homeless players combined.  The global soccer tournament, held annually, attempts to reconcile the world’s homeless with the societies they believe have rejected them.  According to its organizers, “73% of players [involved in the Homeless World Cup] change their lives for the better by coming off drugs and alcohol, moving into jobs, education, homes, training, reuniting with families and even going on to become players and coaches for pro or semi-pro football teams.” 

The success with which these programs have used sport to stem conflict has inspired governments to take action.  President Bush recently lauded the strides Peace Players, International made in using basketball to create ties between children on different sides of the Northern Ireland divide.  Earlier this month, Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, announced his government’s sponsorship of Generations for Peace, a “global initiative” which uses various sports to breed cooperation and understanding among youth in the Arab world and beyond.  Its first training camp, held last year in Amman, Jordan, brought over 8,000 young people together to encourage “peaceful co-existence infused with the values of peace.” 

The article on Soccer for Peace aptly describes soccer as a common language for children who cannot or would not otherwise communicate.  For this reason, its power to develop non-adversarial stances worldwide is profound.