The 7th Friendship Games took place in Eilat, Israel 1st – 8th of June 2012. Women and Men’s teams from Jordan, The Palestinian Authority, Germany, Lithuania, Greece as well as teams of Israeli Arab and Jewish Students took part in this traditional event, featuring a basketball tournament.

The Friendship Games focuses more than just on the love of sports and introduces the athletes to a healthy respect for religion and culture and it is this combination of ingredients that offers the potential for over coming old wounds and making new bridges in the process of peace. This global initiative aims to use sport as a means to help instill dialogue, tolerance and ultimately peace among young people in areas experiencing conflict and hostility.

This year, the Men’s team from the University of Vilnius, Lithuania won The Men’s Tournament, and the Women’s Tournament was won by the team from CDI College in Herzlia, Israel.

While in Israel, the athletes had a chance to tour Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, and also took part in cultural, social and entertaining events, including sailing on the Red Sea.

More information at www.thefriendshipgames.com.