Junior Football Team Performs Well
A Tibetan player at a training camp in Dharamsala |
Paris, 25 November 2003: The junior national football team played against a school in Monaco on 15 November. The Tibetan side lost the match by a goal. But the friendly was significant in that a school team of Monaco faced an opposition team comprising of refugees who have lost their country to China, but not the love of the game. Prince Albert, the Prince of Monaco, graced the event as the chief guest.
Prince Albert greeted the players and the organizers, and expressed his sympathy with the cause of Tibet. The Tibetan under-thirteen squad played against a school in Auriol and the match went in favour of the refugees who won by three goals to one.
Mayoral authority of Auriol hosted a luncheon reception for the Tibetan children. On 23 November at La Martine stadium in Marseille, the Tibetan team lathered its opponent by five goals to none.
A Tibetan player (L) in Tibet’s first international football match against Greenland |
Various events are being organised in Marseille to highlight the Tibet issue through films, lectures, and talks on the development of sports in the Tibetan community today. The young children have been away from home for the last few weeks and, they finally get to eat Tibetan food today, as they will be served the cuisine after the awareness programme.
The Tibetan team will play their last match in Dijon on 29 November followed by film shows on Tibet, and other cultural events to create a general awareness among the French people.
The squad will reach Dharamsala on 1 December 2003.