On Wednesday, September 21, the world celebrated International Peace Day, one day out of the year where individuals, organizations and nations can create practical acts of peace on a shared date. Since its official inception in 2002, Peace Day has marked our personal and planetary progress toward peace. It has grown to include millions of people in all parts of the world, and each year events are organized to commemorate and celebrate this day. Events range in scale from private gatherings to public concerts and forums where hundreds of thousands of people participate.
For the last 3 years, PeacePlayers-Cyprus has been celebrating Peace Day with a large streetball tournament for Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot youth. Last year’s tournament in Nicosia brought together over 200 people to play basketball and celebrate peace in Cyprus. This year, the tournament will be even more special. Tomorrow, September 24, PeacePlayers will be hosting the first ever basketball tournament in Cyprus’ Buffer Zone. Playing in the buffer zone will be a symbol of how youth can transform an area surrounded by conflict into a place for fun and hope.
“The Peace Day Basketball Tournament is a day of celebrating sport and peace for the children of Cyprus. By bringing over 100 Cypriot youth together to play for peace, we are participating in a global event to reduce violence and promote cooperation.” Marina Vasilara, PeacePlayers – Cyprus Managing Director said.
The Tournament will host Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot children from across Cyprus to play 3-on-3 street basketball in mixed teams, listen to music, enjoy food and special activities together in order to celebrate peace. The aim of this event is to bring children from different communities together to play basketball in an inclusive and fun-filled environment, implementing the idea that sport can be used as a tool to help break down social divides and begin to change the negative perceptions children may have about the other community. The ‘Peace Day Basketball Tournament’ will be held in cooperation with the Speak For Peace Festival organized by the Cyprus Community Media Centre.
Make sure to check out the PeacePlayers-Cyprus Facebook Group for all tournament photos and see the blog next week for a full recap!
