The 3rd Annual Community Integration Cup Soccer Tournament (formerly known as the Immigrant and Refugee Soccer World Cup) will take place at Delta Park on Fri-Sat, July 6-7. Spectators are welcome; the event is FREE and open to all.

Portland Parks & Recreation's Community Integration Cup is a soccer tournament and global cultural celebration spoken in the universal language of fútbol (soccer)!

When: Friday & Saturday, July 6 & 7, 2012; opening ceremonies are 7/6 at 10:00 AM

Where: Delta Park, N Denver Ave & Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd

Opening ceremonies will be held Friday, July 6 at 10:00 AM.

Special guests include Portland Parks & Recreation Director Mike Abbaté, Portland Fire & Rescue Chief Erin Jannsens, and representatives from Portland's Office of Equity and the Portland Police Bureau.

This year, Portland Fire & Rescue's Station 7 (Mill Park) and 24 (Overlook/Swan Island) are each coaching teams in the tournament and for the first time two of our female firefighters are coaching a girls' team.  Good luck!

Nearly 300 boys and girls from all over the world who are now living in Portland, as well as native Portlanders, will play and participate.

Playing soccer has been a key way that many of them connect with their new home, and to others. The game has proven to foster camaraderie, and to break down cultural barriers for hundreds and hundreds of young Portland transplants.  Kids originally from the following countries will participate: Afghanistan, Bhutan, Burma, Congo, Czech Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, México, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Turkey, Ukraine, and the United States.

These are all youth originally from abroad who now call Portland home. PP&R is partnering with Portland Fire & Rescue, the City of Portland's Office of Equity, Portland Police, and the African Youth Community Organization (AYCO), among other groups, to bring the Rose City this third annual celebration of culture and sport.