19 August 2021, Hiroshima, Japan – UNITAR is pleased to announce that its Division for Prosperity and Japanese sporting goods company SSK Corporation have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to advance the use of sports as a medium of peace and understanding. SSK created a soccer jersey donning the UNITAR logo, and the jerseys were worn by the soccer players during the “Peace Match” held in Hiroshima on 7 August 2021.

The Hiroshima Football Association 2021 Balcom BMW Peace Match is an annual event held in Hiroshima to commemorate the lives lost and the destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki from the atomic bombings on 6 August and 9 August 1945, respectively.

Mihoko Kumamoto, Director of UNITAR Division for Prosperity, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to collaborate with SSK, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki, and to use sports to inspire youth.

We are excited and honoured to collaborate with Hiroshima and Nagasaki, symbolic cities of peace and resilience, and show the UNITAR logo on the uniforms alongside the logos of the two cities.

UNITAR recognizes the power of sports to bring people together and promote a peaceful and sustainable society. It has held various sports-related activities including women’s leadership training for the Afghanistan national women’s football team. UNITAR recently appointed Mr. Dai TAMESUE, a former sprinter as UNITAR Goodwill Ambassador. “We are grateful for this wonderful partnership with SSK corporation and hope to deepen the relationship in the future,” continues Kumamoto.

The Peace Match was originally planned as a match between the under-15 (U15) prefectural teams from Hiroshima and Nagasaki. However, COVID-19 safety measures prevented the Nagasaki team from travelling, and the match was held between the Hiroshima U15 prefectural team and Hiroshima football club Sanfrecce’s Junior Youth team.