Charity tournament “Diplomats 4 Children” organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Slovakia in Belgrade and Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Belgrade in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sport of the Republic of Serbia took place on Saturday, September 14, on the sport fields of the Institute of Sport and Sport Medicine in Belgrade in the Košutnjak park.
Seventeen teams composed of ambassadors, diplomats and other representatives of diplomatic missions in Serbia as well as of other institutions have been competing for the commemorative cup and medals. However, the main goal of this unique sport event is helping those that are in need – children in this case – and promotion of healthy and active lifestyle.
Hence, the crucial aim of the organizers of the Charity Football Tournament was collecting financial means – thanks to the involvement of all of the footballers – for the Hematology and Oncology Department of the University Children’s Clinic Tirsova in Belgrade.
List of those speaking at the official opening of the tournament includes the Deputy minister of youth and sport Darko Udovicic, member of the City Council of the City of Belgrade Fadilj Eminović, director of the University Children’s Clinic Tirsova in Belgrade Siniša Dučić, as well as chargé d’affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Slovakia in Belgrade, Igor Vencel, and chargé d’affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Belgrade, Andrzej Kindziuk.
Teams were playing on three parallel fields and were divided into four groups with the winners of each group qualifying into the semi-finals. Following embassies took part in the tournament: Czech Republic, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Germany, Poland, Russian Federation, USA, Slovakia, Ukraine, United Kingdom, North Macedonia, Slovenia, Hungary, Iran and Austria. Besides that, three other institutions fielded their teams as well, those being the Delegation of the European Union in Serbia, OSCE Mission and the Ministry of Youth and Sport of the Republic of Serbia.
Players, their families and other guests and supporters were enjoying a lovely football spectacle, and some embassies even prepared traditional food and drinks of their respective countries, so that the competitors could have tried various specialties in the breaks between matches.
The team representing the Russian Federation won the tournament and is taking the cup home, beating the US team in the final match. Bronze medals were awarded to the team from the Ministry of Youth and Sport of the Republic of Serbia.
Organizers secured that all of the participating teams were given medals and T-shirts in order to make them remember the atmosphere they all managed to create by their joint effort.
Charity Football Tournament was supported by the companies Coca-cola and Knjaz Miloš.
Embassy of the Republic of Slovakia in Belgrade and Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Belgrade would like to use this opportunity and thank to all of the embassies and institutions that made this event possible and enabled us to collect the means for the kids that need our help the most.
