[Newsis]

The ‘2017 Interfaith Peace Soccer Tournament’ was held by the Korea Religions Association

The Korea Religions Association (directed by Chairman Hyeon-Yeong Lee) held the “2017 Interfaith Peace Cup - Soccer Friendlies Tournament” on September 16 at the Hanam Sports Complex in Gyeonggi-do.

This event was organized as the largest intra-national religious leaders and sports culture soccer tournament to promote peace and harmony for the sake of mutual coexistence, understanding and interchange among neighboring religions.

Nine denominations, including the International Christian Mission Association, Daesun Jinrihoe, Daejonggyo, the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the Taego Order of Korea Buddhism and the Korea Muslim Federation took part in the event.

This tournament was successfully held with over 300 representatives and congregants from each denomination, most notably including the FFWPU-Korea President Kyeung-Seuk Ryu, Monk Dosan of the Taego Order of Korea Buddhism, the Korea Muslim Federation Chief Director Yeong-Gil Choi, Chollikyo gyotong (title) Sun-Hun Lee, Elder Robinson and Director Jang-Cheol Yu from the Gyeonggi Korea Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and the International Christian Mission Association Chairman Jeong-Su Ahn.

Family Federation for World Peace and Unification Korea Chairman Kyeung-Seuk Ryu is giving the welcoming speech at the “2017 Interfaith Peace Cup” held at the Hanam Sports Complex in Gyeonggi-do, on September 16.

FFWPU Korea Chairman Kyeung-Seuk Ryu stated, “The spirit of harmony and peace through sports found in soccer binds us all together as brothers and sisters, as one family, overcoming the barriers of nationality, race, religion and culture.” Chairman Ryu further declared that “From today’s gathering, the high walls that enclose and tower between religions, the high barriers that confine us among races, and even the boundaries that continue to solidify between nations, will begin to collapse. I welcome you all, the athletes and cheering squads from each denomination, who have come to take part in this Interfaith Peace Cup Soccer Tournament that is part of a series of tournaments initiated by the Rev. Sun Myung Moon, participating together under a deep cause.”

Monk Dosan, Executive Director of the Taego Order, conveyed through his opening remarks, “Thank you for organizing this fine event in which religious people can unite together under one heart and one cause. I sincerely hope we can alleviate the strife between religions through sports, and that the mutual harmony and communication formed through this can extend to religious peace, and expanding further, the peaceful unification of the Korean Peninsula.”

Yeong-Gil Choi, Chief Director of the Korea Muslim Federation, stated, “When our efforts together bear fruit for harmony between religions, peace between North and South Korea and even to world peace, a world in which we live joyful lives, will undoubtedly be established. Through this communicative medium of soccer, let this be a precious time we spend in harmony together.”

Director Jang-Cheol Yu from the Gyeonggi Korea Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints conveyed, “It is a great honor to be able to hold this Interfaith Peace Cup with leaders from various denominations. I sincerely hope that this event can be one in which the resonance between us may expand to world peace, and expanding further toward the resonance of all of humanity, and opening the path towards a world of everlasting peace.”

A representative of the athletes of the ten teams that participated in the “2017 Interfaith Peace Cup” held at the Hanam Sports Complex in Gyeonggi-do, on September 16, takes an oath before the leaders from the nine religious denominations present.

Following the opening ceremony, excluding the Daesun Jinrihoe, a total of ten teams from the remaining eight religious denominations, the Korea Multicultural Peace Federation Chungcheongnam-do branch and the North Korean defectors’ “dong-go-dong-nak (literally: ‘going through the joys and sorrows of life together’)” competed in the event. The Korea Muslim Federation participated with a team comprised of domestic residents of foreigners from Arab countries. Through this, with a soccer ball as the medium, this harmonious event was held overcoming race, nationality, culture and religion.

The tournament was held as a double-elimination tournament, in which the winning teams were selected by the winner and loser of grand finals as first and second place, respectively, as well as a joint competition for third place through a loser’s run.

With this, the Cheongryeonsa Temple team from the Taego Order were the winners, with the Taego Order Youth Association team placing in second. The Chollikyo, Korea Multicultural Peace Federation, Chungcheongnam-do branch and the “dong-go-dong-nak” teams rose to a joint third.

At this event, the Taego Order and Daesun Jinrihoe each delivered 50 sacks (500kg) and 20 sacks (200kg), respectively, of the “rice of love” to the Korea Multicultural Peace Federation Chungcheongnam-do branch and the “dong-go-dong-rak.”