Sun Myung Moon
July 19-22, 2012
True Parents present the Peace Cup to the winners, SV Hamburg, paying particular attention to the club's 18-year-old star Korean player Heung Min Son.
Three quality European soccer clubs plus one from Korea (Seongnam llhwa) formed the lineup for this year's Peace Cup (July 19-22). The small number of teams did not prevent the tournament producing some superb football and stunning goals, however. The standard of play reinforced the view that tournaments showcasing international club play will boost the game's appeal and therefore its power as a tool for diplomacy and relations-building.
If True Father was disappointed at Seongnam llhwa losing in the final, he didn't show it, and appeared to enjoy presenting the winner's cup to the team from Hamburg, and other prizes. He was heard to say it was appropriate that a visiting team claim the top prize.
A senior official from one European team reflected on how warmly their team had been welcomed in Korea, and on his belief that soccer diplomacy could play a role in healing relations between countries. Officials from the team that placed fourth were not downcast either; their young side had competed well and gained valuable experience. The friendly spirit of the Peace Cup, both on and off the field, also made the tournament worthy of its name.
