Kick start for MTG United for Peace Cup Hungary 2011

The big football adventure has finally started again! On 27 May, our great football tournament MTG United for Peace kicked off in the Hungarian capital of Budapest for the second year running. The school kids in the eight different teams were all excited about the opportunity to meet to play football, make new friends and have an experience of a lifetime, even though some of them had a really early start to the day leaving home before the crack of dawn.

The conditions were perfect in the Buda Hills, the football arena Folyondár Sports Centre proved to be a great venue and the sun shining from a clear blue sky made everyone’s spirit rise even further. Most of the children in the eight national football teams could be seen as coming from disadvantaged backgrounds; some of them living in the country’s most poverty-stricken areas with a soaring unemployment rate. But on the pitch, none of that was important – it was all about the shared joy of football. 

The tournament was opened by well-known Hungarian sports commentator Andras Petur, who followed all the matches on both fields during the day. The children enjoyed the gifts they received on arrival: a branded rucksack, numbered jerseys and a large number of footballs, all sponsored by sports goods manufacturers. Food companies provided lunch, refreshments and snacks for all the participants throughout the day.

The exciting tournament finally ended with the team from the town of Bököny coming out as the proud winners. With a population of just 3,000 people Bököny’s triumphant team will no doubt already be the talk of the town. Erdőhorváti took second place, while Kömlő finished third.

A special football match also took place during the day which featured five popular contestants from the reality TV show Paradise Hotel. The children were very excited about not only being able to meet and talk to the national celebrities, but also to play in their team, and learn a few new tricks!

Another 12 countries are to follow suit in this year’s tournament until the finals take place in October in Oslo, Norway, where a team from each of the countries involved will participate.

To see more photos from the tournament click here!
To see the video from the tourament click here!