Social and Diplomatic Events in Ankara

IIS INTERNATIONAL SOCCER LEAGUE 2009 AWARD CEREMONY

The second International Interaction Society (IIS) International Soccer League season came to a close with an awards ceremony at the Gençlerbirliği soccer club's training facilities.

With team AMAC player Johann Hornung as emcee and awards given on a stage with a colorful backdrop, the ceremony was attended by Turkish and foreign participants, including Greek Ambassador to Ankara Fotios-Jean Xydas, a number of Turkish diplomats and other dignitaries and sports celebrities.

The league brought together players from 24 countries in 13 teams, and the closing ceremony followed the final league match between team AMAC and team Greece. The ceremony began with an opening speech by IIS Vice President Barbaros Sarıcı, who remarked on the unifying potential and universality of sports and emphasized that the IIS aimed to organize a soccer league that foreigners could participate in without any discrimination based on language, race or sex. Sarıcı also congratulated the winning team, team United Kingdom, and gave special thanks to the women players who participated in the league. He also expressed hope that next year's competition would bring increased professionalism and wider participation to the league.

The award ceremony saw the recognition of both the winning teams and other outstanding characteristics pertaining to good sportsmanship, with awards going to teams and players for goals scored and chivalry on the pitch. The members of team United Kingdom received their champion's cup and medallions from Turkey's Beşiktaş soccer club player Erhan Güven.

Second place in the league was team Greece, which received a team award from famous soccer player Kerem Şeras. Team Greece won second place by prevailing over team AMAC, a team composed of military attachés who received their medals from former soccer player Abdülkadir Demir. One award for most valuable player went to Azerbaijan team captain Zaur Gassanov, who received his award from the Greek ambassador to Turkey. The second award for most valuable player went to Portuguese team captain Jose Tavares, who received his award from former European Taekwando Champion Ertan Baştuğ. The award for league goal king went to team United Kingdom player Engin Aluç, who received his award from former soccer player Erhan Namlı.

IIS Executive Board member Onur Harman presented the league's Fair Play Award to team Nordics, which was composed of players from Scandinavian countries. All the players who played in the league were given certificates of participation, and the award ceremony came to an end with a cocktail hour during which a slideshow displayed photographs from league play.