Special Olympics athletes from East Timor and West Timor serve as ambassadors for peace through the first-ever sports event between the regions.
Special Olympics West Timor athlete Antonius Bifel (left) and Special Olympics Timor-Leste athlete Luis da Silva struck up a friendship at the Special Olympics Peace Games.
A healing hand of friendship and reconciliation was extended as 10 Special Olympics athletes from previous warring provinces of Indonesia became ambassadors for peace. The athletes were united for the first time ever in friendly competition during the Special Olympics Peace Games, an unprecedented five-on-five football match, held at the indoor facilities of Gedung Matahari Terbit (GMT), Dili, in East Timor.
“I made a new friend in Luis,” said Special Olympics West Timor athlete Antonius Bifel. “He is so much like me. He speaks my language, shares the same interests and loves sports. I am going to miss him when I go back.” Bifel's words were mirrored by Special Olympics Timor-Leste (East Timor) athlete Luis da Silva, who said, “Antonius is like my brother. I wish he could stay longer so I could show him my house, my family and my friends.”
The 10 athletes represent Special Olympics Programs in East Timor, more commonly referred to as Timor-Leste, and West Timor (Indonesia). Each Program selected five players and three substitutes in October and November based on their participation in provincial Games and weekly training sessions. Special Olympics Timor-Leste, the youngest Program in the Special Olympics Asia Pacific region, hosted this historic competition.
For more than 20 years, Timor-Leste and West Timor were embroiled in conflict and heavy violence. In 1974, Timor-Leste obtained its independence from Portugal, but shortly thereafter was invaded by Indonesia. From 1975 to 1999, Timor-Leste struggled to regain its independence, with most of the fighting concentrated between the Timor-Leste and West Timor regions. In 1999, with the support of United Nations peacekeepers, the people of Timor-Leste voted on a referendum for self-rule and in 2002, the country officially declared its independence. West Timor remained a province of Indonesia.
“Individuals from these two previously warring regions will be together again,” said Simon Koh, Senior Manager, Organizational Development, Special Olympics Asia Pacific, and organizer of the Peace Games. “But rather than fighting on the battlegrounds and shooting to kill, they will be on a level playing field and shooting for goals and personal achievements, truly celebrating the purity of sport and advancing peace.”
Jose Luis Goterres, Vice Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, and members of the Timor-Leste cabinet attended the Peace Games. Also in attendance was Kiki Kusprabovo, Counselor in the Indonesian Embassy. Although he was unable to attend, Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta proclaimed that, "Special Olympics athletes are showing us the way to peaceful and harmonious co-existence and international understanding and friendship.”
The Special Olympics Peace Games began with athlete introductions and a joint practice session in the morning followed by a tour of Dili. A jubilant two-hour Opening Ceremony celebration preceded the exciting football match. The day concluded with an appreciation dinner for the two teams hosted by Special Olympics Timor-Leste Chair Maria Domingas Fernandez. As an adjunct to the Peace Games, a Government Protocol Agreement was signed between Special Olympics Timor-Leste, represented by Fernandez, who is also the province's Social Minister, and the government, represented by Sports Minister Miguel Manetelo, whereby the government pledged to recognize and endorse Special Olympics Timor-Leste and support the Program with annual funding and technical support.
“The Peace Games are a testament to the power of the Special Olympics movement to break through barriers that may exist between people of different cultures, religions and ethnicities,” said Dr. John Dow, Managing Director, Special Olympics Asia Pacific. “Special Olympics not only promotes the pure joy of sport, but through the Peace Games, it is also helping support the peaceful reconciliation of two regions by creating friendships without borders.”
Both football teams claimed a victory for reconciliation, despite the competition score of 11:2 in favor of West Timor. A second Peace Games was immediately scheduled for November 2009. The friendly re-match will be held in Kupang, the provincial capital of West Timor.
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