Football tournament among representatives of religious denominations takes place in Astana

09 December 2024, 12:40

The Football House hosted the mini-football tournament “Friendship Cup of the Kazakhstan Football Federation among religious denominations.”

The tournament, dedicated to the Independence Day of Kazakhstan, was supported by UEFA and the Center for the Study of Religions in Astana. This event was aimed at promoting interreligious and interfaith dialogue as integral elements of a culture of peace and harmony.

In 2023 the XXI meeting of the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions took place. Then the country's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted that over two decades of his activity, the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions made a significant contribution to strengthening interreligious peace and harmony, promoting the ideas of tolerance and mutual support, and contributing to the solution of significant world problems.

The opening ceremony of the tournament was attended by the head of the Center for the Study of Religions in Astana Almas Ernazarov, the representative of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kazakhstan, Chief Imam of Astana Erbolat Zhusupov, Ambassador of the Vatican - Archbishop George George Panamtundil, regional coordinator of the Union of Churches of Christians of the Evangelical Faith of Kazakhstan Sergey Kan and head of the sustainable development department of the Kazakhstan Football Federation Chingis Temerkhanov.

Sixteen teams from various religious associations took part in the KFF Cup.

1. "Alash" (team of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kazakhstan)

2. "Turan'' (team of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kazakhstan)

3. Akeler Kenesi

4. "Fatima" (team of the Roman Catholic Church of Astana)

5. ''Salem'' (team of the Astana community of Evangelical Christians Baptists)

6. "Salem Astana" (team of the Astana community of Evangelical Christians Baptists)

7. ''EHB'' (team of the Astana community of Evangelical Christians Baptists)

8. Agape (team of the Union of Churches of Christians of the Evangelical Faith of Kazakhstan)

9. Grace (team of the Union of Churches of Christians of the Evangelical Faith of Kazakhstan);

10. Eastern (IRU "Christian-Presbyterian Church "Eastern" of Astana")

11. Shanyrak (IRU "Community of Evangelical Christians "Shanyrak" of Astana")

12. Nazarene (IRU "Evangelical "Church of the Nazarene" of Astana")

13. Liahona (IRU "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints of Astana")

14. Baha'i (IRU "Baha'i Community of Astana")

15. Balarama (team of the "Society for Krishna Consciousness of Astana")

16. Asia-MIX (mixed team).

The Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kazakhstan "Turan" won the first place, the second place was won by the team "Baha'i Communities of Astana", and "Asia-MIX" took the third. The winner was awarded the "Friendship Cup among religious denominations", and the teams were awarded memorable gifts from the KFF.

The participants emphasized that in modern conditions, religious tolerance and interfaith harmony are the main values of modern Kazakhstan. The formation of interfaith tolerance and attitudes of tolerant consciousness in modern society has educational significance for our entire society.