Young footballers back Bristol's bid to host 2018 World Cup
More than 100 children from 16 different schools around Bristol joined forces for the Bristol Together Football Championships yesterday at Clifton College sports grounds.
And they carried a grassroots message to 'Back Bristol' by logging on to bristol2018.net directly or through the Evening Post's World Cup page thisisbristol.co.uk/worldcup and showing your support for Bristol's proposed participation.
The city is in the running to host up to five World Cup games as part of England's bid to stage the 2018 World Cup.
Bristol City Council has until November 6 to submit its final proposal to the England 2018 World Cup bid team, but first they must impress an England bid team delegation during their visit to Bristol on July 13.
The Bristol Together Football Championships, organised by local community events company Imago, highlighted the diversity the city has to offer.
When the world comes to Bristol they will find the world is already here ready to welcome them.
England, Iran, Somalia, Jamaica, Poland, Switzerland, India, Lebanon and Pakistan were all represented as children from a vast raft of backgrounds competed together in the summer sunshine.
It is the second year of the event, which organisers Dionne Rees and Holly Sheppard hope will grow and grow as the community spirit is embraced.
Schools 'are made to 'twin' with another school from a different geographical area, ethnic origin, faith, or social background and complete four training sessions together before they the event.
Millpond Primary School in Easton twinned with Badocks Wood School in Southmead and on Thursday night treated them to Jamaican cuisine in St Pauls, at the Afro Delight Cafe.
It was the first time some of the Southmead pupils had been to St Pauls, or tried Caribbean food. And this is the sort of cultural exchange Ms Rees, and the Bristol World Cup bid team, are keen to foster.
Ms Rees said: "The event has doubled in size from last year and we now have teams from South Gloucestershire, Bristol and North Somerset.
"There's a really nice atmosphere and it is all very calm. The children are very enthusiastic and are making new friends."
Teacher Pippa Skelton from Birdwell Primary School in Long Ashton believed the kids were making friends for life. New teammates Danielle Jones, 11, of Badocks School and Shanine Wright, 10, from Millpond School, are hoping to keep in touch in the future.
"It was good to go and meet people from another school and see their area," said Shanine, who had never been to Southmead. "And it was fun teaching them about Jamaican dumplings."
Ms Rees added: "We want to use the common language of football to help schools connect across boundaries, be they social or cultural, and promote community cohesion.
"It is like a mini World Cup here today with all the nationalities."
Bristol City Councillor Jon Rogers is part of the Bristol Legacy Commission who helped fund the event along with NHS Bristol, Bristol City Council, Sainsbury's, Riverside and Broad Plain Youth Club, Hope Community Church and Clifton College.
He said: "Football is a big thing in Bristol, especially with the World Cup bid. It is a sport for all and it is great to see boys and girls from all different backgrounds competing together.
"That's one of the great things about Bristol, we've got such a wide and diverse population.
"I'm a GP and the importance of sport cannot be understated. It is about improving the well-being of the city.
Alex Gample, 47, mother to twins Jake and Isabelle, 11, from Windmill Hill said: "There's a real sense of community. The event is very effective with its aims and you could see how a World Cup could do the same, help people meet and get on."
The Bristol bid website enables supporters to vote for the city. FIFA will be paying attention to the numbers of voters and local support will play a large role in deciding which cities earn the right to entertain the world and reap the rewards.
Anybody interested in volunteering, sponsoring or participating in next years' Football Together Championships should call Ms Rees on 07900814162.
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