With flags in their hands and jerseys on their backs, players at the Vancouver International Soccer Festival are using the most popular sport on the planet to promote peace and tolerance.
Many of the participants come from regions of the world where an event like this would be hard to pull off.
"If you want to prove something -- that you are maybe better -- prove it on a soccer field, where you have a referee and the game is fair," Team Serbia's Milenko Acimovic said Saturday.
The festival takes place June 27 and 28 at David Iam Park in downtown Vancouver's Yaletown neighbourhood from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Organizers are expecting more than 1,000 spectators at the tournament. Roughly 400 players are taking part, representing 24 countries.
The first goal is cultural harmony
"I want to build bridges between cultures and nations and people. That's why we exist," festival founder Adri Hamael said.
Hamael has dubbed "The First Goal is Cultural Harmony" as the tournament theme.
The founder says that soccer has a bonding power that forces competitors to recognize each others rights and humanity.
In one week, Vancouver will also be hosting the Allstar Match - featuring world-renowned soccer megastar Zinedine Zidane.
The event will take place on July 4, 2009, featuring world-class players from soccer clubs from across the globe.
A portion of ticket sales will support the VISF's official charity, Peace it Together, if bought online here.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Norma Reid
