Novazzano, Switzerland—The UPF branch in the canton of Ticino, in partnership with the local football club, held the ninth edition of the Peace Cup children's football tournament.
Because of COVID-19 restrictions, the Peace Cup tournament had been suspended for the last two years. Finally, on May 1, 2022, the tournament resumed.
Twelve teams of category E from the Swiss canton of Ticino and the Italian region close to the border, including one female team, participated in the event, which aims to promote fair play.
The association's goal is to offer a friendly environment where personal and inter-team respect is just as crucial as winning the tournament. During the preparations, a sports psychologist proposed the creation of posters to encourage a collaborative spirit among the players and promote strength of character not only in sport but also in life.
In fact, the Peace Cup gives awards not only for winning scores but also for demonstrating support and fairness on the field. The largest and most desired of all, called the “Peace Cup,” is the main prize, given to the team showing the most fair play!
Participants and the public were very motivated, making this event enjoyable for all, especially for the three Ukrainian players, refugees from the war. The Peace Cup was won by the Stabio team, partly also as recognition for integration work, while the Lario Intelvi won the first rank of the tournament.
A big thank you from UPF-Ticino to the organizers, sports clubs, coaches, and authorities and to all the collaborators behind the scenes!