Sports Programs
Athletic competitions and running events bring together people of diverse backgrounds to promote good sportsmanship and build friendship and good will. For suggestions about how to organize a one-day community sports event, click here.
- Written by: Hod Ben Zvi, chair, UPF-Israel
Turin, Italy—An Arab-Jewish soccer team, comprised of fourteen (7 Arab, 7 Jewish) 11-year-old boys, visited Turin, Italy from March 19-26, 2015, to participate in the “Un Calcio per la Pace” (“Football for Peace”) project.
- Written by: Carlo Chierico, UPF-Monza, Italy
Monza, Italy - The ninth annual Peace Cup concluded in June 2014 with the final matches of an eight-team inter-ethnic football tournament in Monza and with women's volleyball and men's football matches that included teams of inmates of the San Vittore Prison in Milan.
- Written by: UPF - Switzerland
Ticino, Switzerland - UPF-Ticino held the third annual Peace Cup children's soccer tournament on May 1, 2014, in cooperation with the soccer association of Novazzano.
- Written by: UPF - Australia
Sydney, Australia - Two sports-loving Ambassadors for Peace invited UPF-Australia to present "Youth Peace-Builder" awards to outstanding young athletes on Feb. 2, 2014.
- Written by: Dr. Paterne Zinsou, UPF-West Africa
Cotonou, Benin - Ambassador for Peace Mr. Honoré Hounkpatin organized a Peace Cup in Cotonou in which the December 31 finals were attended by the Ambassador of Benin to Nigeria and the President of UPF-West Africa.
- Written by: UPF - Italy
Monza, Italy - In collaboration with the Committee of UISP Monza (the “Italian Union of Sport for All”), UPF-Monza promoted the eighth annual "Peace Cup" tournament among ten teams representing the various nationalities of people living in the area.
- Written by: UPF - Switzerland
Novazzano, Switzerland - UPF-Ticino held the second Peace Cup tournament in the town of Novazzano on May 5. This event brought together 11 teams of young soccer players for one day of sports under the motto “Play Football Make Peace.”
- Written by: UPF International
"After meeting three former popes and former presidents of various nations, I had an opportunity to meet with Rev. Sun Myung Moon," said Pele, the soccer hero of Brazil. "He said to me that, since football is the largest organization in the world and a very important means of propagating the message of peace, I hold a great responsibility."
- Written by: UPF - Italy
Monza, Italy - Many say that peace can be reached through sports. The world-famous Pele himself said he has experienced how football can stop conflict at least temporarily, and this was exactly what UPF-Monza had in mind. On June 24, the final matches of the UPF Monza’s Trophy of Peace were held. It was the final day of a nearly three-month football tournament, organized by Carlo Chierico, the Monza UPF president.
- Written by: UPF - Italy
Monza, Italy - Now in its seventh year, the Peace Trophy football tournament opened on April 29 and will continue with matches every Sunday afternoon until June 24. With teams representing the various cultures and backgrounds of the people in northern Italy, the competition encourages good sportsmanship, friendship, and mutual respect.
- Written by: UPF - India
Gangtok, India - The Universal Peace Federation of Sikkim co-sponsored the Hills Men's Open Volleyball and Constituency Level Women Volleyball Tournaments October 15-24, 2011 at the Chuba School Playground, South Sikkim. G.M. Gurung, Chairman of UPF-Sikkim, addressed the opening ceremony for the 18 men's and 16 women's teams. He described the vision of UPF Founder Dr. Sun Myung Moon of sports as a way to build bridges and harmonize people. For details, click here.
- Written by: Hubert Arnoldi, UPF-Stuttgart, Germany