Originally published on the CGS blog on June 7, 2010.
By: Ariela Blätter
The prelude to the conference was on Sunday, with a soccer game [European ‘football’] between teams ‘dignity’ and ‘justice.’ Survivors and family members of victims brought from Northern Uganda, who watched the game from the sidelines of the Nelson Mandela Stadium, were treated to a very unusual sight. Dressed from head to toe in different color but matching shorts and Jerseys, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon and Ugandan President Museveni arrived and took their place on opposing teams. Having heard that Ban Ki moon was very fit before I left DC by those in the ‘know’, I watched him zip around the field like a dapper dancer. I can’t say the same about President Museveni, who looks like he has enjoyed quite a few state dinners in his time. During the 10 minutes both men were out on the field, the Ugandan leader fell over twice, and clumsily missed two goals that were obviously set up for him by members of his team. Members of the United States delegation were invited to play but declined to do so. I imagine they realized that this was the safest option- not to play- given the impolitic possibility of either tackling the UNSG, a survivor from the northern violence, or the Ugandan President on the field. This was a photo-op they felt they could do without.
