Christians and Muslims from Leicester pioneered the idea of a cricket match between Imams and Clergy on 11th of September three years ago and the match has now become an annual feature. It must be the first in the cricket world, the two teams comprising Christian Clergy and Imams of Leicester have faced each other at the crease in the popular Twenty/20 format
 
However this year several other faith groups and agencies have come together to take part in a unique football match with their European partners from Gothenburg, Sweden at 7.00 pm on Monday 16 June 2009 at Spinney Hill Park on East Park Road, Leicester LE5 5GY. This builds upon other inter faith football matches, such as that witnessed by HRH Prince Charles at St
Philip’s Centre in February 2008.
 
This good practice of organising sports events has communicated a message of hope and the possibility of living side by side as friends, even though tension and misunderstanding are also part of life in diverse communities. Canon Dr. Andrew Wingate, the Director of the St. Philip’s Centre said, “This is dialogue in action on the playing field. It aims to promote stronger ties amongst faith groups and other agencies, challenging stereotypes of fear or hostility rampant in the present climate. We have been able to add this year a European dimension and invited a Multi faith group from Gothenburg, Sweden to visit this special city of ours”.
 
Suleman Nagdi MBE DL, Public Relations Officer of the Federation of Muslim Organisations said: “Leicester can pride itself as perhaps the only city in Europe where every community will be a minority in a few years time. This football match proves what a skilled city can offer in terms of community cohesion and good relations. We believe that a sporting event of this nature, which involves several faiths of Leicester and Gothenburg, will contribute to our life in Leicester and beyond. It shows how we can creatively use sports as a means of tacking discrimination at every level”.
 
The Mayor of Leicester is due to attend together with a host of other dignitaries from Leicester, Leicestershire and their counterparts from Gothenburg. These civic leaders will join the Bishop of Gothenburg to support their team, and over 30 visitors will spend three days in Leicester, experiencing the diverse life of the city and its faiths. The organisers of the event are inviting the citizens of Leicester and beyond to watch this significant sporting event.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

1. The Federation of Muslim Organisations Leicestershire, (FMO) is the representative Muslim umbrella body with over 100 affiliated Muslim organisations, mosques, charities and schools in Leicestershire.
2. For more information contact the FMO PR Officer: Suleman Nagdi (07759 446555).