With a participation of nearly six thousand athletes from Regnum Christi Schools, under the coordination in Mexico of the Semper Altius Network of Schools, the XXXIX edition of the Friendship Tournament. The tournament's motto was “The reunion is our victory,” and the 2022 event took place in the State of Mexico from October 27 to November 1.
Opening of the 2022 Friendship Tournament
Fr. Alberto Simán, LC, president of the network of schools in Mexico, welcomed the participants and their families who accompanied them in each of the sporting competitions. “It's been two years without a Friendship Tournament (the tournament was suspended for two years due to Covid). I am sure that many of you were very eager to come, to compete, to share. And, as the motto says, “The reunion is our victory,” in sports, victory is not necessarily the most important thing. It is important, yes, but the most important thing for us is to form ourselves as good people, and sports help us a lot with that. Competing shapes us, losing makes us mature, and as you have done tonight in the rainy weather: perseverance makes us triumph,” said Fr. Simán at the tournament's opening.
For his part, Master Alejandro Santacruz Perales, president of the 2022 Friendship Tournament, commented in his welcoming remarks that “we are happy to have you here. I welcome the countries of El Salvador, Colombia, the Philippines, and all the schools in the Republic. I thank God for allowing us to gather once again for this edition of the Friendship Tournament. I believe that being here together is our greatest victory. This sports competition serves to send a message of peace, reconciliation, and unity to the world. I invite you to take advantage of this opportunity to become a better version of yourselves.”.
The Governor of the State of Mexico, Alfredo del Mazo, declared the Friendship Tournament inaugurated, encouraging the young athletes to value “this opportunity to be here today which makes us reflect on our vulnerability as human beings, on the greatness of the challenges we face, like the one we have just faced in these past two years due to the pandemic, and also on what we are capable of achieving when we unite to overcome challenges. Especially in the educational sphere, thanks to the teachers, the young people, and the parents. Here we have the young people who are our promise, they are our present, and they are our future.”.
The sporting feat of the 2022 Friendship Tournament
This year, the Friendship Tournament had the following sports:
- Women's Volleyball
- Women's Football 7
- Men's Soccer 7
- Women's Soccer
- Men's Soccer 11
- Fast soccer
- Women's basketball
- Men's basketball
- Women's Athletics
- Men's Athletics
- Women's tennis
- Men's tennis
- Women's golf
- Men's golf
- Women's swimming
- Men's swimming
- Women's Tae Kwon Do
- Men's Tae Kwon Do
“The organizing committee and sports authorities have done an extraordinary job in this grand tournament that brings together almost six thousand athletes. Today we know that we can tackle the great challenges of our time only if we stick together. One of the lessons they leave us is that we need more solidarity among people and more solidarity within society,” commented Lic. Manuel Vilchis, municipal president of Zinacantepec, where the sports complex that hosted the Friendship Tournament competitions is located.
Friendship Cup and Fair Play
One of the tournament's objectives is the reception of «The Friendship Cup,» which is awarded to the delegation that best embodies the spirit of the tournament, along with the Fair Play primary, secondary, and Preparatoria Anáhuac. This year, the delegation from León, Guanajuato took home «The Friendship Cup.». Fair Play, The Friendship Tournament website states that it is the set of actions, attitudes, and aptitudes that the Host School and all attendees of the Friendship Tournament (athletes, coaches, delegates, parents, community, etc.) must live and carry out to achieve a true encounter with God through sport and healthy competition. Fair Play It is geared towards ensuring all tournament attendees have a true sportsmanship experience linked to encountering God, based on the three theological virtues: faith, hope, and charity.
Archbishop of Toluca presides over the closing of the 2022 Friendship Tournament
The closing Mass was presided over by Archbishop Raúl Gómez of Toluca. At the beginning of his homily, he wanted to share a brief reflection on the need we all have to seek an encounter with God. “How much good it does us! How much good it has done us! How much good it will do us to always let ourselves be illuminated by the Word of God! The answers to life's troubling needs become, after listening, after contemplating His message, His presence, they become light and profound. When there is a need for God deep inside, nothing and no one can appease it. God has placed the desire for the infinite in the human heart.” Afterwards, he reflected on the Gospel of the day, on Zacchaeus' encounter with Jesus Christ.
The Friendship Tournament 2023 will be held in the city of Chihuahua.
