Idaho students create pre-symposium event to promote “One Goal” screening

Idaho students create pre-symposium event to promote “One Goal” screening

by Lisa Laughlin

Soccer has long been associated with navigating political tensions between countries, as players from greatly different backgrounds and beliefs come together to put differences aside and simply play the game they share a passion for.

This concept has been the inspiration for Idaho’s 2013 Borah Symposium, titled “Beyond the Battlefield: Sports, War and Peace.” The symposium (April 1-3) will highlight the use of sports in peace-making, focusing on the cultural accessibility of sports and their abilities to transform aggression into healthy competition on the field.

This year’s symposium will open with the screening of Sergi Agusti’s documentary “One Goal.” Featuring a soccer team formed by young, African amputees, this inspirational film shows that although these athletes lost limbs as a result of civil war, their shared love for sports is able to elevate them to an iconic level.

Agusti was inspired to create the documentary because of the immense passion he witnessed.

“The images in front of my eyes were beautiful and powerful,” he said. “Through soccer, the team was able to show their community what they were able to do, and became activists of peace and reconciliation during the post war period.”

He began producing “One Goal” in 2008 in order to spread the energy and message of the team. Agusti has been filming since 2003, following the team as they have travelled the world, organized the first African Amputee Cup in 2007, and created eight amputee teams in Sierra Leona.

“I think One Goal shows the energy inside every human being to change their destiny,” said Agusti. “I’m honored to be able to show the energy of that group of people who wants to change their own society. I think they are the ones that are able to create an impact on the spectator and communicate with the communities.”

Agusti says he will stay involved with the team as long as their passion continues to push them in the right direction. He hopes his documentary will help to create new teams across Africa to educate and raise awareness on peace and disability rights.

“We want to spread the model all across Africa and use the power of soccer to create a movement that can help the change: a movement where you are all invited and welcome to join us on the way,” said Agusti.

Inspired by the theme and purpose of “One Goal,” six Idaho students have been working to create an additional awareness event on Idaho’s campus to promote the screening. Idaho sophomore Daniel Lewis, a double major in International Studies and Recreation, is leading students Ali Nuckles, Kaylee Kosareff, Lauren Layton, Patrick Green, Lindsey Short, and Tolu Adekunle in creating the project.

The awareness event will take place Friday March 29th from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Memorial Gym. There will be interactive stations where students can try to shoot or dribble a soccer ball using crutches, as well as informative stations and sign-up sheets for people interested in contributing to the project. Lewis hopes other amputee soccer players from the Northwest will also be able to attend.

The screening of “One Goal” will take place in the Student Union Building Ballroom at 7 p.m. on April 1, accompanied by commentary from Sergi Agusti and followed by a panel discussion. This event is free and open to the public.