Amman, Jordan - On September 21, UPF-Jordan participated in the celebrations of the UN International Day of Peace by organizing a football tournament for youth. The four teams represented Jordan University, Jordan Badia, Iraq Unity, and UNRWA (the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East). Following initial matches three days before, the final was played at the King Hussein Park Football ground.
The event was jointly arranged by UPF and the Jordanian Palestinian Brotherhood Association, under the patronage of H.E. Faisal Al Fayez, former prime minister of Jordan. In attendance were representatives from UNRWA (Mr. Richard Cook) and UNHCR (Mr. Imran Riza) as well as Iraq's ambassador to Jordan, H.E. Sa'ad J. Al-Hayani. A total of 300 people attended the event.
Brief presentations were made by Dr. Hamdi Murad, member of UPF's Presiding Council; David Fraser Harris, UPF's regional Secretary General for the Middle East; and Dr. Ghazi Tayyeb, president of the Jordanian Palestinian Brotherhood Association. In the final match, the Jordan University team beat the Iraq unity team 1 - 0.
Commemorative photographs and awards closed the event, which had taken place late in the evening in order to allow time for those who had been fasting to break their fast. An event that was not without its own tensions confirmed the importance of reaching out to reconcile and come together, especially in the strife-torn Middle East. It was fitting that Jordan, so often cast in the role of peacemaker, should be host to this admirable effort to celebrate the UN's International Day of Peace.
To read UPF's Peace Declaration and reports of observances in other nations, click here.