In a planet full of challenges, obstacles and adversities, the congregation of thousands of Mexican families united by faith and sports is a commendable and profoundly hopeful effort. In recent days, the thirty-ninth edition of the Friendship Tournament was held in the city of Toluca in the State of Mexico, being the school sports event with the largest number of participants in all of Latin America.
The first edition of this great event was held in 1982. The fair evolved year after year, including more sports and schools, until achieving in 2018 the congregation of 8 thousand 100 athletes, 45 thousand companions and 77 schools of the Red Semper Altius. COVID 19 forced the cancellation of the 2020 and 2021 editions, and it was in 2022 that the tournament was held again with great success.
The Tournament arrives on time, at a critical moment, in which family, sports and faith must be fundamental components to achieve peace, justice and the well-being of our communities. It is these three elements, pillars of the Tournament and components of incalculable value that can save us.
Thousands of soccer, basketball, tennis, and volleyball games; hundreds of rounds of golf; thousands of tae kwon do matches, swimming and track and field events, were the perfect pretext to cultivate healthy competition, teamwork, leadership, unity and resilience among children and young people from different cities of our country.
I will personally treasure forever as an example to follow: the persistence of the girl who dodged defeat and embraced triumph; my son’s tears of emotion at the end of his fight; the goalkeeper’s frustration at receiving the goal and his resilience to get up and save the next penalty; and the hug that united parents and children at the end of the day.
At a time when the family as an institution has been strongly threatened and hit, when sedentary lifestyle and addictions have affected our physical and mental health, and when some have lost the possibility of a better future, the Friendship Tournament appears to sow a seed of love, hope and discipline in the hearts of thousands of families.
Thanks to the women and men who have made this edition of the Friendship Tournament possible, especially to the members of the Regnum Christi family. Thanks to the authorities of the Government of the State of Mexico. Thanks to you, dad and mom, who have taken the time to share their training and competitions with your children. Thanks to the teachers and coaches who were committed to training the athletes. And thanks to you, athlete who participated in this sport fair, and with it, in addition to constituting yourself as a better human being, you are forming a united, winning, committed, competitive and loving Mexico. See you in Chihuahua!