The event was divided into a Champions Class
for the pros, and Friendship, Women’s, Junior High School
and Primary school classes for the rest.
GSA Kyushu/ Okinawa Team Captain, Hiroyuki Ito, has been promoting environmental
awareness and action at the event through the Ecoflag, and this year’s
actions included:
-An environmental statement in each team's application
form, which then go on display in the town hall for a year.
-Environmental considerations included in the athlete’s oath
-The goal of the Ecoflag Movement is included in event announcements
-Ecoflag goods are on sale at the event
-A flea market is included as part of the event
-A beach ‘clean up’ is included in the opening ceremony
-Parking limitations are used to encourage car-pooling
-Kids carrying Ecoflags lead the finalists onto the pitch
Including this range of environmental actions
is indispensable for spreading a high level of environmental
awareness among sponsors, spectators and participants, although
having run these measures continuously over a number of years,
the overall impression is that those involved in the event
already naturally include environmental considerations into
the very fabric of their activities.
A clear result of these activities can be seen
in the recent establishment of GSA Kumamoto and the adoption
of the Ecoflag at Kumamoto Soccer Association league matches.
Three of the four finalists in the Champions Class wear the
Ecoflag on their uniforms and Ecoflag T-shirts and other goods
can be seen everywhere.
The standard of play at the event was of the
highest standard, and two of the players at the event are currently
playing for the national team in the Beach Soccer World Cup
Asian qualifier in Dubai. Not only does the event present itself
as a model example of a beach sports event, but will leave
a lasting impression on the many association and soccer related
figures that witnessed the tournament.
The event was also the first for the newly established
GSA Kumamoto and to mark the event, its volunteer staff member
entered the Friendship Class competition as the ‘Ape
Club’ team.
Report by Tadashi Kuramoto, GSA
Tokyo
-Environmental messages
On the application form for the event, every team had to write their environmental
message and actions, and this was displayed on a board throughout the event,
along with a message from the pro beach volleyball team, Beachwinds.
-Beach Clean Up
Everyone involved took part in the clean up which took place after the opening
ceremony.
-Sports Goods Recycle Box
-‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ Promotion
-Zero Emissions Promotion
-‘Take your Garbage Home’ Promotion
-Environmental Inspections by Taura Town officials
The event was held in conjunction with the town and town greening projects
were also exhibited.
-Recycle Flea Market
120 teams in total took place in
this massive event that is also a qualifying event for the
national beach soccer
finals in Okinawa, later in the year. 48 teams were registered
in each of the champion and friendship divisions of the main
category, with eight teams each in the Primary school, junior
high school and women’s divisions. The first day of the
event ran the qualifying rounds of the main division, with the
final rounds, junior and women’s divisions held on day
two. The second day was kicked off with an ‘athletes oath’ by
two players, as well as a speech by GSA and the presentation
of the Ecoflag Certificate to the Mayor of Taura.
More than just a great event among
wonderful surroundings, organizers, participants and spectators
could learn as well as
have fun, and due to its success we can expect even bigger things
from next year’s event.
EVENT RESULTS
Primary school division: FC-ESPERANCA, Kumamoto U-12
Junior-high division: Fukuronaka Soccer Club A
Women’s division: MASAAZU
Main Division
Friendship Class: GORINGO 8 BALL
Champion Class: Nakayoshikai (go on to national finals in October)
FC-ESPERANZA, who wear the Ecoflag on their uniforms were runners up.
