UN-backed sports event in Somalia brings together people from conflict areas

A two-day football and basketball tournament bringing together athletes from conflict areas in southern Somalia concluded today in Baidoa, after drawing a huge crowd of onlookers, according to the United Nations Sports for Peace Programme.

"Although this tournament brought together people from two regions which have been in conflict, the sporting events went forward in a very peaceful spirit and enjoyable manner," said Philippe Gourdin, Coordinator of the UN Programme, which co-organized the games with the Somali Olympic Committee.

The Coordinator said the basic objective of the programme, which began last August, was to foster reconciliation. "We hope to bring Somalis together in peace through other sporting activities like peace runs, school sports competitions and youth sporting leagues," he said.

The week's events began on Tuesday when a plane carrying 39 athletes and members of the Somali Olympic Committee arrived in the southwestern town of Baidoa from the capital Mogadishu.

The games, which kicked off on UN Day (24 October), attracted thousands of onlookers from all over the area, including children and teenagers, faction leaders from both towns, militiamen, women traders selling juice and homemade ice cream, and even displaced communities from Mogadishu who came to cheer on their team. Spectators paid a small fee for tickets to see the games, the proceeds of which are to be used to help local sports teams.

International aid workers also joined the fun, competing against both the Baidoa and Mogadishu teams, as the UN Humanitarian Coordinator and other UN agency chiefs looked on.