Newly Independent East Timor Takes on ROK ... and Japan
 | | (Photos/ROK Batt Pao Maj. Kim, Gweon II) |
The peacekeeping contingents from the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Japan serving with the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET) launched a "Mini World Cup" to coincide with the international football tournament hosted by the two countries.
The month-long competition that began on 1 June featured matches between forty local clubs in East Timor’s enclave of Oecussi, culminating with the winning team facing off in a 30 June final against a joint Japanese-Korean side.
The Korean battalion has also erected a massive screen near their headquarters in Oecussi, which has been showing live World Cup matches from the two countries to large crowds.
Meanwhile in Geneva, Secretary-General Kofi Annan on 7 June met with his Special Adviser on Sport for Development and Peace, Adolf Ogi, who briefed him on his efforts to facilitate a contribution from the international soccer federation, FIFA, to help install three large-screen television monitors at public venues in Kabul so Afghans could follow the World Cup tournament.
In Cyprus, peacekeepers enjoyed the World Cup match between the ROK and Poland, as UNMISET has senior officials from both countries. The Polish Chief of Mission, Zbigniew Wlosowicz, and the Korean Force Commander, Major-General Jin Ha Hwang, watched together in Nicosia as the Republic of Korea beat Poland 2-0.
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