The Ninth President Shimon Peres hosted the professional football player Eran Zahavi on Sunday, 28.8, at the Peres Center for Peace, on his first visit back to Israel since joining the Gwangju RP China football team.
The ceremony was attended by Ninth President Shimon Peres, Eran Zahavi, and the Chinese Ambassador to Israel Zhan Yongxin. Peres appointed Zahavi an "Ambassador for Peace in Sport", in recognition of the importance of promoting peace and tolerance through football, as well as Zahavi's role in serving as an example and role model for hundreds of thousands of young Israeli and Chinese, Arab and Jewish children. In addition, Peres gave Zahavi a shirt inscribed with his name and the title, "Ambassador for Peace".
Peres said: "Eran – you are a teacher and an example to the children of Israel of tolerance and peace on and off the court. I am sure that you will continue to serve as an example, and will represent Israel and the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation in China. Your signature move is "pew pew". Now let us add a word of peace. For the first time in both Israel and China's long history, we have a common goal and are playing together - this is another significant step forward in the close relationship that Israel has with China."
Peres also addressed the importance of sport to promote peace and said: "Football is an international language, it does not matter if you speak Hebrew, Arabic or Chinese, everyone has a place on the field. I believe that the children here today who are playing together will lead the advancement of peace."
Zahavi, who recently left to play football for Gwangju RP China, was very moved by the gesture and said: "Hello everyone. Ni hao. It is an honor to be here and to be appointed Ambassador of Peace in Sport by the Ninth President, Chinese Ambassador and the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation. I see this appointment as a challenge that I no longer represent only myself, but the entire state of Israel, and I promise to represent it with respect and fulfill this role the best that I can. We as footballers need to set an example for all children and let them know that no matter what their religion or race - they all have a place on the football field. This is a great commitment and I plan to fulfill it."
The Chinese Ambassador to Israel Zhan Yongxin said, "The world of peace and tolerance is not far away from us, and can be achieved through sport. Though we won many medals in the Olympics, our football development has a long way to go, and with Eran, we will make progress. This will increase people to people exchanges and mutual understanding between China and Israel. I wish Eran a fantastic performance in China".
Before the ceremony, Zahavi played football for peace with dozens of Israeli and Palestinian children, participants in the Peres Center's "Twinned Peace Sports Schools" program, as well as children of employees of the Chinese Embassy in Israel. Though this group of youths speaks three different languages, together they spoke the international language of football and peace.
At the end of the ceremony Zahavi launched the project "Shavim", or "Equals", which aims to collect food donations for disadvantaged families for Rosh HaShana, and is led by Zahavi in cooperation with the organization "Pitchon Lev", or "Open Heart".