Mini Mondial for Peace – 2018
The Peres Centre for Peace and Innovation kicked off the 15th annual Mini Mondial for Peace – bringing together 800 Arab and Jewish, Israeli and Palestinian girls and boys from communities across Israel and the West Bank through soccer. This event promoted shared-living and acceptance of the “other.”
Australian ambassador Chris Cannan watches a pro’s ball skills Photo Credit: Avi Doek
Ambassadors and diplomats from around the world including Australia’s ambassador to Israel Chris Cannan, Israeli premier league players, and Mayors and heads of local councils joined with the players in the opening ceremony – held at the Herzliya Municipal Stadium.
Participants Photo Credit: Avi Doek
To kick off the event, two exhibition games were held between the children and the Ambassadors and Mayors Peace Team and the Israeli Premier League Peace Team. Dia Saba, star of Maccabi Netanya and the league’s top scorer, and Lee Falkon, Player of the Year, were presented with the “Sport Ambassador for Peace” award for their contributions to advancing understanding, peace and co-existence through sports in Israel.
Special guests included: Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Peres Center, Chemi Peres; CEO of Maccabi Tel Aviv, Ben Mansford; Mayor Moshe Fadlon of Herzliya; Mayor of Sakhnin Municipality and Head of the Arab Mayor’s Forum, Mazen Ghanaim; and the children’s TV star, Tal Mussari, who served as the event MC and game announcer.
The Ambassadors and Diplomats included:
-
Mission Director Monica Stein-Olson, USAID
-
Counsel Rogerio Mario, Angola
-
Secretary Andres Rojas, Argentina
-
Ambassador Chris Cannan, Australia
-
Counsellor David Millward, Canada
-
Deputy Ambassador Signe Biering Nielsen, Denmark
-
Ambassador Anu Saarela, Finland
-
First Secretary Gauthier Appriou, France
-
Ambassador Alison Kelly, Ireland
-
Ambassador Gianluigi Benedetti, Italy
-
Charge d’ Affaires Jon Chessoni, Kenya
-
Ambassador Doulat Kuanyshev, Kazakhstan
-
Ambassador Edminas Bagdonas, Lithuania
-
Ambassador Magnus Hellgren, Sweden
-
Representatives from the Embassy of the United Kingdom in Israel
Chemi Peres said: “Today, with the security tensions, you are proving to everyone that there is hope for coexistence, tolerance and partnership – for the children and the next generation, who are our future.”
