ONE LEBANON, founded by Soprano Tania Kassis, has rocked the football pitch for the third time in a friendly game at Notre Dame de Jamhour to celebrate the International Day of Sport for Peace & Development and share a symbolic moment of unity.

Ambassadors and diplomats from the British, Italian, German, Brazilian, Australian, Dutch, Spanish, Greek, Algerian, Egyptian, Pakistan and Bangladesh embassies played against the ONE LEBANON team consisting of Lebanese celebrities, businessmen and friends of ONE LEBANON like pianist & composer Michel Fadel, Stand-Up comedian Tony Abou Jaoude, Basketball Champion Walid Doumiati, the new sensation of The Voice France Marc Hatem, poet Nizar Francis, the President of the Lebanese Businessmen Association (RDCL) Dr. Fouad Zmokhol and Fransabank Director Nadim Mouajes, and many others public figures proving once again the power of sports in uniting people and breaking all barriers.

This game also featured Dutch international player Aron Winter (who played four times in the World Cup) and Gilanne Louwaars, both ambassadors of “World Coaches”, the international social program of the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB). 

Tania Kassis, Founder and President of ONE LEBANON who has recently received a Murex d’Or as “Lebanese Ambassador on International Theatres in the World” and for her song WATANI as the “Best Patriotic Song” of the year, opened the friendly game by stating in the opening speech: “The world is united today through the ambassadors of foreign countries to support Lebanon and they are at the same time challenging the Lebanese to be united and win! Whoever wins, Lebanon is a winner by being always unified!”

The ONE LEBANON team won 5-4 over the Ambassadors with two goals by each of Marc Hatem and Fouad Zmokhol and a 5th goal by Walid Domiati.

This game has also united the media as it was broadcasted simultaneously on many TV Stations such as TELE LIBAN, LBC, FUTURE TV and OTV thanks to the generous support of Mr. Talal Makdessi, it was covered as well by special reports in the prime-time news of all the Lebanese TV channels!

Among the enthusiastic and vibrant supporters present at the game were many celebrities, ambassadors as well as the ONE LEBANON volunteers and committee members: Lina Moukheiber, Ziad Mikati, Lamia Darouni, Mona Shour, Najwa Bilal and Philippe de Bustros.

During the game, British Ambassador Hugo Shorter confessed to be “pleased to be part of this great initiative that is happening for the third year.’One Lebanon’ NGO presents the real Lebanon that we would all like to see, promoting the power of coexistence and unity, and we are proud to be on their side.”

This Football Amity Game was organized in partnership with Fransabank, and supported by Sports Forever who generously offered the cup and the medals for the winners.