PRESS CONFERENCE ON 14 SEPTEMBER TO 3 OCTOBER SOCCER TOURNAMENT OF UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE

Press Briefing

PRESS CONFERENCE ON 14 SEPTEMBER TO 3 OCTOBER SOCCER TOURNAMENT OF UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE

"Exactly one month from today, on 19 September, at Flushing Meadows Park in Queens, New York, what could have been another conference on peace at the United Nations will instead be, on the soccer field, an exercise of peace, cultural understanding and international awareness", said Harvey Dupiton, Chairman of the non-governmental organization (NGO) Committee on Southern Africa, during a press conference this morning at Headquarters. The press conference, which was sponsored by Costa Rica and Grenada, was also attended by Emilia Castro de Barish of the Permanent Mission to the United Nations of Costa Rica, Lamuel A. Stanislaus, the Permanent Representative to the United Nations of Grenada, Ken Podzila, Sports Commissioner of the City of New York, and Howard Rubinstein, Treasurer of the Eastern New York Soccer Association.

Mr. Dupiton said the event was in the true spirit of the International Day of Peace as set out in the Costa Rican- sponsored resolution passed by the General Assembly in 1981 (A/36/67). People in several communities could set aside their differences and share their concerns. The conflicts of the world were often reflected in the communities living in the New York metropolitan area. On 19 September, teams would be playing under different flags, and would show "how friendship works".

Mrs. Castro de Barish referred to the preamble of resolution A/36/67, entitled "International Day of Peace and International Year of Peace", when she said that the promotion of peace, both at an international and a national level, was one of the primary purposes of the United Nations. Costa Rica had, since its independence in 1821, always been committed to peace, democracy, human rights, politics and sports, particularly soccer. The valuable initiative for this event, she said, was a promotion of efforts, especially among young people, to be aware of the importance to promote peace in the world and among themselves.

Mr. Stanislaus, said that it was through the universal language of music and through the culture of sport that the world had the best opportunity to obtain the universal goal of brotherhood. To have the International Day of Peace tied in with an activity like soccer would be taking a first step which would lead to a great advance in the promotion of peace. In that connection, he referred to the Chinese philosopher Confucius, who said that a 1000-mile journey started with a single step. That first step would be taken on 19 September, he said.

Mr. Podzila, on behalf of New York City Mayor Rudolf W. Giuliani and all New Yorkers, said that it was a real pleasure to welcome this United Nations Day of Peace event to New York City. Such sporting events were a great way to unify people from different backgrounds and political ideals. Reading from a

Soccer Press Conference - 2 - 19 August 1999

letter from Mayor Giuliani, he said the Mayor applauded the NGO Committee on Southern Africa for initiating this tournament to underscore how peace and unity could be achieved through sports and that his city's diverse population looked forward to the tournament.

Mr. Rubinstein, Treasurer of the Eastern New York Soccer Association, which would take care of the organizational aspects of the event, said it was fantastic that the event would take place in Flushing Meadows Park, because that was where the United Nations Headquarters used to be before it moved to the current building and also because the matches would be played around the Unisphere: One World. He hoped there would be some nice, peaceful and enjoyable soccer matches.

Asked by a correspondent how teams would be chosen, how women would be integrated and how many matches would be played, Mr. Rubinstein answered that international missions were asked to put teams into the event and that some soccer leagues were willing to send teams as well. He said that in New York soccer was ethnically based. Caribbean groups from Brooklyn, the Cosmopolitan League, formerly the German-American League and the Italian-American League would be sending teams. Some of the women's leagues would put a couple of teams into the festival as well. Mr. Dupiton added that participation was open to anyone.

Mr. Rubinstein also said that there would be no charge -- that the tournament could be watched by anyone. "The more, the merrier", he concluded.

* *** *