ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan

On 21-23 October 2016, the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) together with other UN entities and with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan organized the fifth diplomatic mini-football tournament within the framework of the UN Day. This year the tournament was dedicated to Turkmenistan’s 25th anniversary of independence.

Representatives from eleven Embassies as well as the UN, the OSCE and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan took part in the tournament. The team of the Embassy of the United States of America won the competition and received the UN Preventive Diplomacy Cup, which was awarded by Ambassador Petko Draganov, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General and Head of UNRCCA. The joint team of the Embassies of Saudi Arabia, Armenia and Malaysia and the team of the Embassy of Kazakhstan received silver and bronze medals respectively.      

Recreational football activities were organized for Ambassadors and other representatives of diplomatic community and their family members in the margins of the tournament. Children present at the event had the opportunity to train with professional football players.