Tony Blair peace mission backs Bath-Bethlehem sports festival
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair’s Middle East peace mission has given its blessing to a sports festival which will see children from Bath and Bethlehem competing head to head.
The Bethlehem-B&NES Links Youth Sports Festival will see around 100 secondary age children from Palestine taking part in the competition in Bath in October.
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Tony Blair
The event - the first major activity under the umbrella of the Bathlehem-B&NES Links project - has been backed by the Office of the Quartet Representative, which administers Mr Blair’s work on behalf of the UN, the USA, the EU and Russia in the region.
At the festival between October 21 and 26, teams from each country will play football, netball, basketball and table tennis, as well as getting together for dance training and a swimming gala. A social programme will also show off the tourist attractions of the B&NES district, and céilidh is planned.
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The event has been coordinated by Sally Potter of Spotters Hockey Academy for the project, an initiative set up to encourage knowledge, understanding, respect and friendship between people, communities and businesses in each location.
A statement from the Office of the Quartet Representative said: “The aims of the Bethlehem-B&NES link project dovetail with the Office of the Quartet Representative’s own mandate to promote economic growth and job creation on the ground in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. We believe the project has the potential to make a positive impact.”
Quartet staff have met trustees from the Bethlehem-B&NES Links project to discuss it on two occasions.
A festival roadshow is planned next month for schools which have committed their support, which will start the process of selecting children to make up the teams.
After that, regular coaching and social events are planned throughout the spring and summer.
Andrew Davies, head teacher at the city’s Beechen Cliff School, said: “Palestine is a region often viewed with caution, yet the bottom line is that communities, families and schools are trying to get on with business as usual under tremendously stressful conditions. Sport cuts through political barriers and preconceived ideas and, as we all witnessed with last year’s inspirational Olympics, enables friendships and cultural understanding to be forged between nations. Beechen Cliff is delighted to be participating in this event and to offer our pupils the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of Palestinian culture through sport.”
There are a number of sponsorship opportunities available for companies wanting to get involved with the sports festival. To find out more or request a sponsorship document contact Karen Ramirez via kramirez@lingua-communications.com.
5 Comments
by Viscount_V
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 9:18PM
“Blair didn't and couldn't have made that decision alone. It sticks in the craw because of all the profitable self promotion he does now. Unlike Gordon Brown who donates all his proceeds since stepping down to charity http://tinyurl.com/7uf9v6q One of the above is a socialist clearly.
Who of the two do we think Cameron and Clegg (who let's not forget also backed the war) will take after when they lose in 2015?”
by capndave
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 9:03PM
“AbandonShip…
I think most people would support the Prime Minister they elected into power, and support him and his government.
Trouble is that at the time these decisions were taken we did not know Blair was a lying, greedy bast**rd!”
by AbandonShip
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 8:22AM
“More seriously Imp-Act, your revisionism is extreme. There were good, persuasive arguments for us not to invade Iraq, but there were also good, persuasive arguments for us to invade Iraq.
Here are the facts:
Most importantly, our Parliament debated the issue at great length and voted to take military action
At the time, and shown in many opinion polls, more people in the UK supported Parliament's decision than opposed it
All major security agencies, including the United Nations, suspected that Saddam STILL possessed stocks of WMD in 2003. Ask Hans Blix, ask Scott Ritter. So they must all be liars then.
"WoMD BS" : ask the people of Halabja about the WoMD BS
http://tinyurl.com/9d3hj
Saddam was under Chapter VII UN Security Council resolutions (enforcable by military means) to allow inspectors in to inspect; he regularly impeded such inspections.
In reality there was no choice between war and peace, as is often portrayed by the silly ex-Stalinists of the STW movement; it was an incredibly difficult decision between removing Saddam with all its consequences, and leaving him in place with all its consequences. I doubt the Middle East would be more stable now if Saddam (and his murderous sons don't forget) had been left in place.”
by AbandonShip
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 8:00AM
“by Imp-Act
Well said Imp-Act: BRING BACK SADDAM!”
by Imp-Act
Tuesday, February 19 2013, 5:05PM
“TB (100% has the right initials) on a peace mission!!!!!!! The 100% liar (along with that idiot Bush liar) attack Iraq for NO reason! Killed god only knows how many innocents! Totally destroyed their infrastructure and the murders today are STILL going on because there is now no strong leader! Blair is just one big lying, murdering coward! Or has everyone forgot the WoMD BS? 9/11 had ZERO to do with Iraq! TB is just a nasty to be around! Disgusting little thing!”