PeacePlayers-Cyprus, six Greek Cypriot and six Turkish Cypriot boys aged 14-16, are in Norway 23-30 April for a youth basketball tournament in the western town of Bergen.
"We believe that by bringing Cypriot youth together to play it will help them to interact, learn from each other and together contribute for the best of Cyprus", said Norway's Ambassador to Cyprus Mr. Sjur Larsen.
Cultural experience and exchange
“This is a tremendous opportunity for our youth”, said the coach Mr. Orhun Mevlit.
The visit to Norway is not only about basketball. It is as well a cultural experience and exchange. The players stay with host families and will present Cyprus and the PeacePlayer program to students of their age in local schools.
Visits to the Red Cross and the Peace Research Institute of Oslo (PRIO) is also on the agenda for them to learn more about Norwegian conflict resolution efforts.
The main sponsors of this event are the EEA Grants, Jotun Company and Choice Hotels.
Children who play together can learn to live together
PeacePlayers International (PPI) is an international non-profit organization that uses the game of basketball to unite and educate children from divided communities in Israel and the West Bank, Northern Ireland, South Africa, and Cyprus. PPI was founded in 2001 on the premise that “children who play together can learn to live together.”