PeacePlayers-Cyprus Basketball Tournament (3 on 3)

A total of 130 Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot children, parents, coaches and volunteers came together to participate in PeacePlayers-Cyprus’ end of the year Basketball Tournament in Agros on 15th of May.

90 children, ages 10-15 came together from all over the island - Agros, Limasol, Nicosia, Trikomo, Famagusta, Lapithos and Kyperounda in a fun and inclusive environment to share, play, compete and win together.  “I liked that we played together without thinking that our two communities are supposed to be enemies.  That was nice.” Said Augustinos Demetriou, a 14 year old from Agros.

The event started at 11am and finished at about 3pm with a Boys “Junior” Division Champion Team, Boys “Senior” Division Champion Team, and an all-Girls Champion Team. The Boys “Junior” champion team consisted of Mert Celik (Nicosia), Hasan Ciyaslioglu (Famagusta), Theodoulos Moullotos (Agros) and Rafael Paraskeva (Kyperounda). The winners of the Girls Division was Galatia Kitromil (Agros), Teslime Kaya (Trikomo), Chrystalla Kleridou (Agros), Laden Sevimli (Famagusta), and Marina Patsalou (Kyperounda). The Boys “Senior” championship team was comprised of Onat Ataman (The English School, Nicosia), Diren Muhtaroglu (Nicosia), Murat Harper (Nicosia), Kyriakos Koytsoyiannis (Agros) and Erol Ulugay (Famagusta).

The event was generously supported by the U.S. Embassy’s Bi-Communal Support Program.  This past year PPI-CY and the U.S. Embassy partnered up to perform six bi-communal basketball events, culminating with this past Saturday’s 3-on-3 basketball tournament.

PeacePlayers International established a program in Cyprus (PPI-CY) in October 2006 using the game of basketball to facilitate positive dialogue and interaction between Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot youth.  The project is led by a group of 10 local coaches who direct activities that bring 11-15 year old Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot youth together to play with the belief that children who play together can learn to live together.  The project receives support from a number of various donors including the US Embassy, UNDP-ACT, Laureaus Sport for Good Foundation, the Anna Lindh Foundation and others.

For any questions or comments please contact Marina Vasilara at 99-301586 or Orhun Mevlit at 97-748325 or via email at cyprus@peaceplayersintl.org.