July 4th— Symbolism in sports arenas, among
nations
Sunday, 04 July 2010
"I want to
build bridges between
cultures and
nations and people.
That's why we
exist."
-- Adri Hamael, Palestinian-Canadian
Founder, Vancouver Int'l Soccer
Festival
POWER OF SYMBOLISM:
THIS JULY 4TH DAY
July 4, 1776, Founding Fathers of the United States adopted The
Declaration of Independence.
Two signers -- John Adams then Thomas Jefferson
-- were also distanced opponents who developed disdain for one another.
They became second and third Presidents of the U.S.
They were fierce competitors launching ferocious
attacks on each other.
In later years, they transcended differences, found
their shared humanity, and built a friendship.
July 4, 1826 Adams and Jefferson died on the same
day -- resolved, with each other in their hearts.
This is symbolic of the un-ending, ever-maturing
American Revolution -- the importance of the individual citizen always
in cooperation with others for the good of all.
POWER OF SYMBOLISM:
FIFA FOOTBALL
IN SOUTH AFRICA
July 4, 2010, there is an evolving South African HOMECOMING
REVOLUTION -- http://www.homecomingrevolution.co.za/
Sport is a force for this awakening to both
personal independence and humankind's undeniable interdependence -- one-ness.
"It does not
matter that we did not qualify.
What matters is
what we are creating together."
From SIGN OF A VICTORY
by Anthony Prangley & Rebecca
Sehloho
South African youth
pioneers of change
WATCH -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YW4nwsqgz8I
-- THEIR INSPIRING VIDEO (1-1/2 min)
featuring the Soweto Spiritual Singers
Also in South Africa, FOOTBALL FOR HOPE -- http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/worldwideprograms/footballforhope/
-- is a celebration of the power of football as a tool for social change
and an official element of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
This unique and global movement uses the power of
football to achieve sustainable social development.
Thirty-two teams of young people from
disadvantaged communities around the world are gathered in Johannesburg for a
festival of education, culture and football.
Football for hope
festival begins in South Africa
Published in NEXT (Nigeria)
-- 01 July 2010
http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Sport/5589243-147/football_for_hope_festival_begins_in.csp
Youth participants include the "Peace Team" of eight Israeli and
eight Palestinian teenagers who flew to South Africa to compete as
one in parallel with the FIFA World Cup.
These impressive young women and men are young
apprentice coaches who have graduated from the "Twinned Peace Sport
Schools" Program of the Peres Center for Peace -- http://www.peres-center.org/ - and the
Al Quds Association for Democracy and Dialogue -- http://www.streetfootballworld.org/network/all-nwm/al-quds
They are extraordinary youth role models of
cooperation for both young peers and the international community.
They are modeling on one of the world's greatest
stages how Israelis and Palestinians can engage and cooperate successfully.
POWER OF SYMBOLISM:
ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN UNITED
AT VANCOUVER INT'L
SOCCER FESTIVAL
Beginning June 26, 2010, the VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL SOCCER FESTIVAL
-- http://www.visf.ca --
gathered 1,000 athletes and volunteers representing 36 nations competing in 128
matches.
Of the 48 teams, Team Israel-Palestine United -- http://traubman.igc.org/visfteamunited.pdf
-- who flew together from the Holy Land were winners of the VISF 2010 Team
Spirit Award.
Palestinian-Canadian Adri
Hamael is VISF's founder and director who can be
reached at info@visf.ca and (604) 727-7038 and his Facebook
page.
Hamael said:
"Beyond soccer, this is about global peace.
"This is about building bonds between cultures
and nations.
"We are united by our love for this game, united
by our mutual respect for one another."
SEE TV news broadcasts:
Soccer
festival's goal is peace in the Middle East
CTV News -- 27 June 2010
Vancouver
International Soccer Festival
3-min news video
Novus TV - 29 June 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbcYHieQPPw
READ print media reports:
Festival
seeks peace through soccer
Metro Vancouver -- June 26,
2009
http://www.metronews.ca/vancouver/local/article/252291--festival-seeks-peace-through-soccer
Palestinian
and Israeli
Coed
Soccer Teams Unite at 2010 VISF
Vancouver
International Soccer Festival Coincides with Canadian Multiculturalism Day and
FIFA
June 7, 2010
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Palestinian-and-Israeli-Coed-iw-3453439086.html?x=0&.v=1
WATCH the VISF site -- http://www.visf.ca--
for more news and social outcomes from this powerful initiative from Vancouver.
- - - - -
These and hundreds of other success stories are preserved at http://traubman.igc.org/messages.htm