New Jersey, USA — Following the denial of U.S. visas, the Tibet Women's Soccer Team has announced its participation as "special guests and Ambassadors of Peace" at the 2017 Vancouver International Soccer Festival (VISF).
"Tibet Women's Soccer, in collaboration with One Team United for Peace and Development Society, is proud to confirm that the Tibet Women's Soccer Team will compete at the 2017 Vancouver International Soccer Festival as special guests and Ambassadors of Peace," stated Executive Director Cassie Childers in a press release issued on May 13, 2017.
"This marks the first international competition for a Tibetan women's team in any sport, and it is also the first Tibetan team—regardless of gender or sport—to compete on Canadian soil. This is regarded as a historic milestone by Tibetans and serves as a symbol of Tibetan sports diplomacy," she remarked.
The team's plight gained international attention after a video of the young athletes reading a heartfelt letter in front of the Embassy seeking assistance went viral. Subsequently, politicians, athletes, attorneys, and human rights advocates worldwide reached out to urge a reconsideration of the visa denial. The story garnered coverage from prominent outlets including BBC, The Guardian, The New York Times, The Times of India, NBC Sports, ESPN, CNN, and MSNBC. Nevertheless, the decision to deny entry remained steadfast.
Childers commented, "Being denied U.S. visas was one of the most disheartening moments in these girls' lives. However, our team’s motto has always been 'Never Give Up,' and despite this setback, we persevered. When the invitation from Canada arrived, we were ready. Tibet Women's Soccer is poised to demonstrate to the world the capabilities of Tibetan women and to proudly represent their country on an international platform."
The Canadian Embassy in New Delhi has granted the team travel visas to Vancouver for the 13th annual festival, scheduled for July 7-9, as well as an opportunity to engage with Toronto's Tibetan community in an exhibition match. The team of 14 young Tibetan women expressed enthusiasm at receiving this successful invitation, following the disappointment of being denied tourist visas by the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi on February 24 to attend the prestigious Dallas Cup in Texas—a denial that spurred significant media attention and led to the invitation to Canada.
The team will be accompanied by Head Coach and Technical Director Gompo Dorjee (Tibet), a former member of the Tibetan men's national team, Executive Director Cassie Childers (USA), and team therapist James Ryle (Ireland). Dorjee stated, "The team is currently training diligently in preparation for the tournament. The players are determined not to let Tibet down and are acutely aware that the world is watching."
"At Vancouver’s One Team United for Peace and Development Society and the VISF, we believe that soccer possesses extraordinary power to build bridges between cultures, strengthen communities, foster enduring friendships, and bring our global community closer together," remarked Adri Hamael, Founder and Executive Director of the society and its flagship VISF event. "Our invitation to the Tibet Women's Soccer Team is extended in the spirit of this mission. I am deeply moved by the team's inspiring story. As a father of a young girl, it is vital for me to ensure that girls and women have the opportunity to compete and are treated as equals."
The Tibet team will be co-sponsored by VISF 2017 and One Team Society. In addition to competing at VISF 2017, the team will engage in friendly matches with local soccer teams and partake in various cultural and sightseeing opportunities that Vancouver offers. They will also collaborate with a Tibetan men’s team based in Calgary to play Tibet’s inaugural official co-ed friendly match.
During their stay in Vancouver, the team will have the opportunity to work with Andrea Neil, a Canadian Sports Hall of Fame inductee and a pioneer of women’s soccer in Canada. Having spent 20 years with the National Team as a player and assistant coach, Neil currently works in the Vancouver area alongside former Men's National Team player Nick Dasovic at Dasovic-Neil Coaching, providing individualized soccer training and programming to elite athletes.
After the tournament in Vancouver, the team will travel to Toronto to engage with the large Tibetan community and participate in another match.
The team and organisers are calling upon supporters for both moral and financial assistance. "We are currently fundraising to cover the team’s travel to Canada. Please support us by donating to One Team United Soccer Society at oneteamunited.ca or to Tibet Women's Soccer at tibetwomenssoccer.org. One hundred percent of donations will be directed toward the costs of the team's travel and living expenses in Vancouver."
