On June 21, Commissioner Podziba will welcome the Soccer for Peace Cup to New York City. The Cup will feature a competitive bracket and a recreational bracket, each composed of 16 teams. The five-a-side-teams will compete in six games lasting 25 minutes each. Indoor games will take place at Chelsea Piers Sports Complex and the outdoor games will be played at Chelsea Waterside Park. Tournament proceeds will support Soccer for Peace's overnight soccer camp and year-long program that was created with Arab and Jewish youth in mind. The tournament will commence at 8:00am and run through dusk.

"This event will provide a fantastic opportunity for Soccer for Peace to raise funds and awareness for their programs aimed at uniting children from war-torn countries through their mutual love of soccer," said Commissioner Podziba. "Participants in the Soccer for Peace Cup will not only enjoy the thrill of playing in competitive and recreational soccer games, but will also receive satisfaction in knowing that they helped support this worthy cause."

This summer marks the fourth consecutive year that Soccer for Peace will hold its overnight camp in Israel. Participants represent Arab and Jewish communities in equal number and are brought together for a program premised upon intensive soccer training, facilitated dialogue workshops and social excursions and activities. The participants are subsequently enrolled in a year-long program and thus reunite three to four times per week for a similar mix of programming. They return to camp the following summer, and again to the year-long program, continuing in this cycle from ages 10 to 16.

"Having held many fundraisers in New York, I'm thrilled to have our local fans put the 'soccer' in Soccer for Peace," said Chairman of Soccer for Peace Ori Winitzer. "We expect a great crowd and animated event, all benefiting the work we do in the Middle East. New Yorkers are a generous bunch, and soccer folk understand the power of the game to bring people together."

In addition, Soccer for Peace will host their annual Gala on Thursday, June 19 at Chelsea Piers' Sunset Terrace. More than 300 people are expected to celebrate and support the organization's work.

Soccer for Peace has been named an implementing partner of the Football for Hope Movement, a joint effort of FIFA and Street Football World. As such, Soccer for Peace receives financial support, as well as entry into the group of organizations recognized by the sport's governing body for their potential to create meaningful change in the world.

Individual registration is $125 and team registration is $1,000. Tickets for the gala dinner on Thursday, June 19 are available for $125 in advance or $150 at the door.

For a more information, please visit www.soccerforpeace.com.

Soccer for Peace (SFP) is a non-profit organization aiming to unite children of war-torn nations in their shared love of soccer. Based in New York City, the organization has no affiliation; political, religious or otherwise. SFP has been named an implementing partner of the Football for Hope Movement, a joint effort of FIFA and Street Football World. In 2007, SFP launched a partnership with the Maccabim Association, the community services arm of famed soccer club Maccabi Tel Aviv.

The New York City Sports Commission is the mayoral agency charged with attracting, facilitating and promoting professional, amateur and scholastic sports events in New York City. The Sports Commission has played an integral role in creating or developing many new sporting events, including the NFL Kickoff Live from Times Square, NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series™ Champions Week, the BMC Software NYC Cycling Championship, the AVP Brooklyn Open, the NAUTICA NYC Triathlon, the NYC Half-Marathon, the Union Square Street Sessions presented by Jeep®, the Wild Onion Urban Adventure Race, and the Men's Health Urbanathlon.