On January 29, 2009, the women’s professional basketball team from Limassol, KV Imperial AEL, hosted Istanbul’s Galatasaray in the first game of the FIBA EuroCup Eighth Finals. In addition to the significance of the EuroCup game, the event fostered an intense political atmosphere as Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot fans sat on opposite sides of the court and were joined by a noticeable police presence.  The match was stopped once in the first half as objects were launched onto the court from the stands. One in attendance might have looked at the behavior of both sets of fans and proclaimed that any and all efforts at reconciliation in Cyprus were hopeless.  However, seated behind the south basket, near the Galatasaray bench, was a glimpse of a better day and a brighter future. The PeacePlayers International-Cyprus (PPI-CY) bi-communal basketball teams enjoyed the game together and spent an enjoyable evening with their teammates and friends.       

      For the members of PPI-CY’s two bi-communal basketball teams, this night was just another opportunity to enjoy a little basketball with their friends.  A program grant from Rational Games Inc., a consulting and training organization specializing in conflict management, enabled PPI-CY to create two bi-communal teams, one with 12 boys and one with 12 girls. Before the AEL/Galatasaray game, the boys’ team played a friendly match against AEL’s under 15 junior boys’ team at Agios Antonios School in Limassol. Coach Antonis Tsolakis of Agros and Coach Sevki Pirlanta of Trikomo/Iskele coached the boys, and according to Coach Tsolakis, it was a “pretty even” game.      

       After taking team pictures and a quick dinner, the PPI-CY teams left for the AEL/Galatasaray game. During the pre-game introductions, PPI-CY’s girls’ team presented roses to both teams, and exchanged a few hugs, kisses, and high fives with their favorite players along the way as well. At halftime, the girls took center court and played 5-on-5 in front of the packed gymnasium. Two of the coaches of the girls’ team, Bahar Mevlit, and Zalihe Yucel, led the teams during the scrimmage. The game garnered a great deal of publicity and was broadcast live across Cyprus. The commentator covering the game referred to PPI-Cyprus’ girls as: “The Peace Team,” and invited some of the stars of the half-time show to a courtside interview. Emel Karagözlü from Lapithos/Lapta was ecstatic and spoke for many of her PPI-CY teammates when she said, “I am so happy to be here!”     

        The game ended with a one-point victory for AEL, yet there was another small victory achieved amid tense political conditions. PPI-Cyprus showed once again that through the game of basketball, outdated stereotypes and social barriers cannot outlast efforts towards peace. PPI-Cyprus would like to thank Lambousa Travel and Tours, Agios Antonios Secondary School, Rational Games Inc., and Vandex Sports, Inc. We would especially like to thank Takis Lyras and Orhun Mevlit; without their help this event would not have happened. We would also like to thank the president of the AEL women’s team, Kyros Vasiliou, as well as Stephanos Koutsoudis for their generosity and willingness to allow this event to take place. Finally, special thanks to our coaches: Antonis Tsolakis, Michaelis Pohanis, Bahar Mevlit, Zalihe Yucel, and Sevki Pirlanta, for their continued support.