The opening day of the annual UN General Assembly in September was first declared to be the International Day of Peace in 1981. This year, it will fall on the 21 September. Last year, 11 September should have stood as a sign of solidarity, respect and tolerance - instead it became a historic day of terrorist violence of immense proportions and incalculable consequences.
In September last year, NGO Play Soccer in close co-operation with SOS Children's Villages and other organisations, including football associations, organised football matches and other sports contests, cultural events and peace activities in 26 countries around the world. These Global Peace Games were intended to be a demonstration of tolerance and friendship in the UN Decade of Peace, to highlight the significance of children and young people in building a peaceful society in the run-up to the "UN Special Session on Children." In view of the attacks of September 11, the peace games became all the more symbolic and their message tragically topical. The Global Peace Games are scheduled to coincide with the International Day of Peace in 2002. Many SOS Children's Villages are expected to take part.