Published : Nov. 2, 2011 - 20:00
Dong Kwang Won orphanage (in red) plays against Lycee de Francais Seoul at Suwon World Cup Stadium on Oct. 22. (EKF)
An International Youth Football Championship has helped bring European children and Korean orphans closer together through soccer.
The tournament organized by the Europe-Korea Foundation was held at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Gyeonggi-do.
The tournament was started in 2005 and has seen European, Japanese, Chinese and American kids living in Korea take part in its five editions so far.
This year, eight international schools and Suwon orphanage Dong Kwang Won took part in the event. Donations made on the day went to support Dong Kwang Won, whose team also won the event thanks to a successful penalty shootout against the Japanese School in Seoul team to take their score to 5-3.
The main sponsors of the event for kids aged 10-12 were GM Korea, Dulwich College Seoul, Standard Chartered and Allianz Life Insurance.
“EKF will keep continue to support the international and Korean youth to ensure that many children, regardless of their backgrounds, are able to build up a great relationship with each other by using this universal sport as a common interest,” an EFK spokesman said.