Press Release: 2012 Partnership aims to unite Coventry and Warwickshire

Young people from across the region are being encouraged to tackle social issues and score a goal for community spirit during a special football tournament.
The second annual Unity Cup will be held at the Alan Higgs Centre, in Allard Way, Coventry, and the organisers are looking for more teams to register for the six-a-side tournament before the event on Friday August 28.
The event aims to break down social barriers in an attempt to reduce incidents of anti-social behaviour. It is hoped the tournament will also help increase understanding and community cohesion amongst the participants as well as the spectators.
It has been organised by the Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership for the 2012 Games, West Midlands Police, Positive Activities for Young People, Coventry Cathedral, the Football Foundation and Whitefriars Housing Group.
The tournament will be played under the Kick Racism Out of Football banner and forms part of the Coventry and Warwickshire 2012 Partnership’s Peace and Reconciliation Project.
The project is one of six major flagship schemes the partnership are undertaking to maximise the opportunities for the region surrounding the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Tom Clift, manager of the Coventry and Warwickshire 2012 Partnership, said: “The build up to the 2012 Games provides us with a unique opportunity to use sport as a force for good.
“Sport can act as a powerful medium for change, it has far reaching and powerful effects - it can evoke strong emotions and engage people like few other activities.”
David Williams, from Coventry Cathedral, said: “The tournament has been organised so that we can use the power of sport to bridge divided communities and eliminate conflict and we would encourage as many people as possible to come along and get involved in what promises to be a great event.”
The tournament will consist of three age groups 11 to 13, 14 to 15, and 16 to 18-years-old. There is also a girls-only tournament for ladies aged 14 to16-years-old.
The tournament will run between 11am and 3pm and all teams must register by Thursday August 27. All players must have signed consent forms before they will be allowed to participate.
For more information and entry forms contact Gez Murphy on 07738388872 or email gez.murphy@coventrysports.co.uk.
ENDS

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