The 2018 edition of the "Un Calcio per la Pace" project has been in pink

16 girls born in 2004 from the State of Israel have been guests of the Republic of San Marino from 28 to 31 August as part of the project “A Soccer for Peace”, supported by the FSGC (Football Federation of San Marino) in collaboration with the UPF (Universal Peace Federation) San Marino. The initiative, which intends to use football as an instrument of peace and integration for the Middle East region, reaches its fourth edition this year, the third hosted in the territory of San Marino.

Compared to previous events, the most noteworthy news this year is that football has been declined to women - and not to men - to play the role of absolute protagonist. The ball has in fact been called to act as an amalgam tool between the Middle Eastern girls (8 of which are Jewish and 8 Muslim) who came on the Mount Titan, but also between them and the same San Marino peers who were at their side - with the task of doing the host too - in the course of this experience.

The program was rich. The Israeli girls - accompanied on the Mount Titan, among other figures, also by two Israeli parliamentarians of Arab culture - arrived in San Marino on Tuesday 28 August and the next day they visited the “Casa del Calcio” (Soccer Hiuse) in Montecchio, then the historical center of San Marino; after which, in the company of the “colleagues” of San Marino, they headed to the field of Faetano for the first of the scheduled training sessions. Thursday 30 has been the day dedicated to the audience by the Head of State, Excellencies Capitani Reggenti Matteo Ciacci and Stefano Palmieri, before returning to Faetano for the second training session.

Friday 31st They have been visiting the historic center, then attend the opening ceremony of the Special Olympic of Small State in Europe (9 were presents) and finally, in Faetano, they took part in the Summer Women’s Football Festival, the second event of a women’s football party that this summer had already staged - but in Montecchio - last 27th July and which, added to the Women’s Football Day on 26th May, became the third post-season event organized this year by the FSGC for the promotion of San Marino football.

We had a Chance to meet the Top Level for Social Project of EUFA. She was in San Marino for the opening ceremony of the Special Olympic of Small State. She payed attention to what we said to her. She expressed the desire to talk to the girls. The girls were nice to her. They made a photo together.

Returning to the project “A Soccer for Peace”, in addition to the institutional moments and those more exquisitely football, for the San Marino girls and their guests there has been no shortage of convivial and leisure occasions for the birth of friendships that can be transferred - this is the profound meaning of the project - even in a wider dimension, beyond any cultural or religious difference.

With the Head of State in the Parliament In Front of the Parliament with 4 IAPP MPs Girls from Israel and San Marino together Two from Israel, one from Italy and one SM

Girls playing together Giving a short presentation on Character The group with the Top representative of EUFA Education to the girls and teachers on social projects. (She is on the top of the picture)

Link to a TV news

http://www.smtvsanmarino.sm/cultura/2018/08/30/ambasciatrici-pace-16-giovani-atlete-calcio-pace- udienza-dalla-reggenza