The Lebanese and Palestinian national anthems opened the first Rugby match between the AUB Rugby League Team and the Palestinian Rugby Team held on Friday February 18th at AUB’s Greenfield. President Peter Dorman introduced the special sporting event on behalf of the UNRWA Lebanon Field Office and the European Union who hosted this collaborative effort to highlight the joint interest in maintaining and supporting sports activities and promoting sports across the region, and providing an opportunity to strengthen the bonds between AUB students and the Palestinian community in Lebanon. The event was held under the slogan “Dignity for All,” and as Angelina Eichhorst, Ambassador of the European Union Delegation in Lebanon stated in her speech, “cannot have a better title.”
A large crowd of spectators, including many AUB students and Palestinian nationals gathered around the stadium to cheer their teams on. The event received national and international media coverage and was attended by a number of local and international dignitaries. Special guests included high level representation from UNRWA, the European Union Delegation, the PLO, and representations from the embassies of Malaysia, Australia, and Palestine, as well as the Ministry of Sports and Youth with the arrival of Abdulla Abdullah, Lebanese Minister of Sports and Health.
Fillipo Grande, UNRWA Commissioner-General, welcomed the crowd heatedly and expressed his efforts to “change the perception of Palestinian refugees… [who are] proud, skilled, technical, athletic and enduring…” They have the same future and prospects as their Lebanese counterparts, he stressed.
“We are the new generation,” founder of the Palestinian Rugby League Team Rabie El Masri said, “the future is an open space…” Special mention was given to Ahmad Hamoud, a Palestinian player who lost his mother two days prior to the event.
The score was 12 – 10 to AUB at half time and ended with 20 – 10 also in favor of the AUB team. The crowd gathered and cheered as the two competing teams shook hands and expressed true sportsmanship and team spirit.
The Awards Ceremony began by the exchanging of shields by Talal Nizameddin, Dean of Student Affairs who presented them to Salvatore Lombardo, Director of UNRWA Affairs. The Palestinian Team were handed their second place medals while the UNRWA Commissioner-General awarded the AUB team their cup.
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Under the slogan “Dignity for All”, and as part of defining the role of
United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) Lebanon Field Office, the
University Sports Department at the American University of Beirut is
organizing a special sports event which is the 1st match of its kind between
the Palestinians Rugby League Team and AUB Rugby League Team at the
Greenfield on Friday February 18th, 2011 at 6:00pm. The event will proceed
with the following:
· Speech on behalf of AUB
· Speech on behalf of UNRWA
· Speech on behalf of the European Union
· Introduction of the players & game Kick Off
· Awards Ceremony & Exchange of Trophies
Amongst the spectators and alongside AUB Administration, will be Mrs. Angelina Eichhorst, Head of the European Union Delegation in Lebanon, Mr. Fillipo Grande, UNRWA Commissioner-General, Mr. Salvatore Lombardo, Director of UNRWA Affairs/Lebanon, and Mr. Abdullah Abdullah, PLO Representative in Lebanon with other dignitaries.