Kiev, Ukraine—International Day of Peace was celebrated in Ukraine with friendly competitions in mini-football between teams of students.
The celebration was held on September 19, 2015, in the sports and recreation complex of Kiev University of Law Sciences of Ukraine. Under the theme "Today with Sport—with the Future of Tomorrow,” the friendly competitions in mini-football (also known as futsal) were held among higher educational institutions of Kiev city.
The first such competition was held at Kiev Law University three years ago. University leaders actively supported the initiative of "Peace One Day" and the Universal Peace Federation. At the first competition in 2013 only two teams were involved, but this year the teams of the National University of Physical Education and Sports of Ukraine; Interregional Higher Professional School of Communication (girls’ team); and the Kiev Theological Academy, Kiev Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, also took part. Every year more and more participants were involved.
The student teams were greeted by Mr. Eugene Prudnyk, a world champion at arm-wrestling and an actor at the Kiev National Operetta Theater. Mr. Ruslan Kolisnichenko, UPF-Ukraine coordinator of youth programs, presented certificates of Youth Peace Ambassador to pupils of the Sviatoshynsky Region "Leader" Youth Center, the vocal duet “Sisters Adriana and Midyeya Narutski," and to the most active participants in sports.
Volunteer Saori Kikuchi from Japan, who learned Ukrainian in order to teach origami, said the origami crane symbolizes the bird of happiness. In Japan, Miss Kikuchi said, there is a tradition that if 1,000 origami cranes are made, the dream will come true and peace will come.
Members of the teams participating in the mini-football competitions were awarded diplomas by university Rector Professor Yuri Boshytskoho.