Ultimate Peace in the Middle East

Last Tuesday I went to Hayarkon Park, a park about a mile and a half from where I live that I run and bike through a lot, to help set up for Ultimate Peace in the Middle East. When I got there I helped do some odds and ends things but since the company delivering most of the equipment didn't show up until about 630 the day wasn't as productive as I thought it would be. Instead, I went to lunch and played a lot of ultimate with new friends, I even learned a few new games! Wednesday I wasn't able to help with the clinics and teaching of the coaches (the israeli and palestinian children's local sports coaches) because I was in class all day. Thursday, was the day that the Israeli and Palestinian children played together! The Palestinian children came from areas in the West Bank and the Israeli children from within Israel. Many of the Palestinian kids are not Israeli citizens but since they are under 16 the laws are less strict on allowing them in the country. After getting a quick briefing on "rules" like how we could only speak english not hebrew and how the guys should wear hats not kippas and tuck in their tzit tzit (all so as to not preference the israeli kids), we were off to go teach ultimate! Although the children predominantly speak two different languages, an outsider could barely tell any difference. The kids were playing together and enjoying learning a new sport together. And to add to it, the kids were wearing jerseys of teams like Bodhi, Brute Squad, Ironside (left), Hodags, Dartmouth, Riot, Sockeye, PoNY, Revolver, and other teams that I am familiar with.For those of you not involved in the ultimate culture, these are some of the best club and college teams in the US, many from the Boston area. As you can probably imagine, I did not wipe a smile off of my face the entire day.
Friday and Saturday were the hat tournament. In ultimate they call it a "hat" tournament because of the way they pick (or I guess used to pick teams), by putting the names of everyone who signed up in a hat and randomly choosing. We played 4 games each day with two byes and a lunch break in the middle. My team went 8-0 and won the tourney (below)!! I learned some new games, taught some new games, and played many familiar games like "wah" and miniature tanks (for those of you that know what those are).
Sunday some of the UP staff went into the Palestinian villages to play with the kids some more. Unfortunately it's not so easy to get there on your own since you have to cross the "green line" aka into the west bank and they didn't have enough room in the cars and vans for everyone.

So UP in the Middle East was an amazing event, and I'm glad to hear from the staff that they think it is only the beginning. By September they intend to have Ultimate as a high school sport in Israel! Peace through spirit of the game, such a simple concept, now let's all cross our fingers. And as a plus, I have so many more friends to play with my last few months here!



Pictures:
Ultimate Peace in the Middle East

another update of pesach break adventures to come soon, hopefully.