Days 10 to 13

Yeah, I know I am behind in my posts. But can you blame? It´s not like I am dying to get in front of the computer. There´s way to much excitement everywhere. I'm working on it!

Argentina 6: Serbia 0

It was a bittersweet victory for me the other night when Argentina brokedown the "Iron Wall" of the Serbia and Montenegro defence. With the win, my albiceleste assured their way to the elimination stage. But my heart went out to S&M, both because they were all really nice guysand because this meant that their dream to qualify from the group stage was over. But as my grandfather says, "in football there is no justice."

While at the Gelsenkirchen Fan Fest, I got meet to meet Andrzej “Bobo” Bobowski, President of the Polish Football Association’s fan club. Bobo is the undisputed King of Polish Soccer Fans. He’s an inspiration for all football funs. Bobo has been to 8 World Cup and attended over 100 matches. Moreover, he’s especially proud that has has been to almost every Germany vs. Poland match, whether at the international and club level over the last 25 years. Perhaps, when Bobo retires, I can become the King of Football for Peace!

Days 7, 8, 9

I decided to get a more authentic experience and watch the Germany-Poland match, one of the most fierce rivalries, at the local watering hole in Bocholt, a small town on the border with Holland. While Germany was clearly the better team, we had to wait to the 91st minute in injury team for the Germans to score. The irony was that the the goalscorer had a french last name. And that´s not too surprising or uncommon in the world of football. There are two Poles on the German team, as well as two players with Ghanian roots. This degree of multiculturalism was unimaginable in football 20 years ago. But now it is common. Perhaps, football is a positive indicator of where the world mabe headed?

m game

Day 6: Serbia and Montenegro defend Make Goals Not War!

I met today with players and represesntatives from the Serbia and Montenegro team at their training camp in Billerbeck. Above is Nemanja Vidic, Serbia and Montengro international and Manchester United defender proudly displaying his Make Goals Not War jersey. Nemanja signed our petition to outlwar war and told me he really supported our goal. I wish the Sebian and Montenegro team all the best of luck (but not too much against Argentina!). It was nice to hear officials from the team confirm my belief that football can bring even dividied states together. They added that in the case of Serbia and Montenegro at this year´s World Cup, it was a joint effort to get to the finals and that all the joys of victory and pain of loss wil also be shared together.

Day 5: Argentina´s training camp in Herzogenarauch

I couldn´t help myself but I traveled all way to the heart of Franconia to catch a glimps of the albiceleste. While I was there, I met several well known Argentine media figures, sportscaster "Qique" Felman and Rueben Ehizaguirre,lead singer of the popular folklore group, los nocheros who both added their support to the Make Goals Not War project.

Day 4: Fanproject 2006

I decided to take a little detour and visit the fanproject2006, essentially a tent city where fans from all around the world can hang out in a relaxed setting, get to know one another, watch the games, and basically just have a good time. I watched the a couple of games there, including Australia´s magnificent comeback win against Japan, and a clinical Czech defeat of the USA. Best of all, thearenan where we watched the game is also the local livestock exchange. There was still a faint scent of, well, you know...

Day 3. Mexico vs. Iran

I got to hand it the Mexican fans, they know really how to throw a wild party. I arrived in Nuremberg and for a few minutes, I thought I was in Mexico city. In front of me was a sea of green shirts and everyone chanting Viva Mexico and singing cielito lindo. Actually, the train ride here was also a load of fun. I hung out in the bar on the train with a crazy bunch of Austrians, Mexicans, and Iranians. We sang songs from all three countries. Plus, I also had my first "Austrian breakfast" which consisted of cold beer, cold beer and cold beer. When in Rome...

Day 2: Argentina vs. Ivory Coast

This was the day I was wating for. Argentina´s first group stage game. I went by the stadium really early in the day and there was a huge mob of Argentines singing, dancing, and cheering before the game. I watched the game at the Fan Fest in Hamburg with a bunch of friends from Jordan, Germnay, Argentina, Ivory Coast, etc. Argentina won, but just barely. A good start and I hope the first of many victories to come.

Day 1 Germany vs. Costa RicaHere

So here I am in Berlin for Day 1 of the World Cup at the Fan Fest in Berlin. The organizers have set huge screens in the main squres of each host in Germnay, sothe public and fans from all around the world with tickets to the games canwatch and enjoy the games together. I´ve been getting a great response to Make Goals Not War from all the fans here at the World Cup. It´s great to see people from every corner of the planetgetting along so well, being good winners and losers, and most importantly,that we all hope to build a better and more peaceful world.

FIFA Headquarters

While here in Switzerland, I figured I should do more than just digest as muchchocolate and cheese as humanly possible. So I decided take a visit FIFA´snew headquarters in Zurich. It was pretty quite over there, probably becausemost of the FIFA staff have made thier way to Germnay in advance of the openingceremonies. The headquarters is quite architecturaly interesting. But what´sreally great is that the building is designed to be environmental friendly,boasting that it is a zero-emission building. Way to go FIFA!

The UN and Make Goals NotWar ..

The driving factor behind the creation of the United Nations (UN) was to keep the peace between countries.

So here I am in Geneva, Switzerland where the UN's main offices are located. I met with representatives of the Special Adviser to the UN Secretary General on Sports for Development and Peace. That's right, the UN recognizes and actively promotes sports for peace. According to them:

Sport, as a universal language, can be a powerful vehicle to promote peace, tolerance and understanding. Through its power to bring people together across boundaries, cultures and religions, it can promote tolerance and reconciliation.

This meeting really encouraged me to work even harder and excites me about the potential of Make Goals Not War. Especially now that I know an international precedent exists, I am on ever surer footing.