Patchogue, LI—Monday, March 18 Today Legislator Rob Calarco announced the date for the 5th Annual Play for Peace Tournament. This year’s tournament will take place on Saturday, August 10, 2013 at the Patchogue-Medford Youth Soccer Complex on Sipp Avenue in Medford. The tournament is open to eight men’s teams and eight women’s teams. Teams interested in playing should contact Legislator Calarco’s office at (631) 854-1400 or amy.keyes@suffolkcountyny.gov.
      “Last year’s tournament was a great success, and with the number of teams who have already expressed interest in playing in this year’s games, I’m confident that the 2013 will be our best year yet,” Legislator Calarco said. Last year’s tournament saw more teams and sponsors participate than ever before. Prime sponsors included Bridgehampton National Bank, Gershow Recycling, TRITEC Real Estate and the Suffolk County PBA. Along with Swirls and Twirls Frozen Yogurt, team sponsors also included Tropical Smoothie Café, Long Island Latino Teachers Association, Port Jeff Sports, and the Pita House. Sponsors like J. Signs, Inc., the Brookhaven-Roe YMCA, AVOICE/Bias HELP, and the Patchogue-Medford Congress of Teachers have consistently supported the event from the beginning.
      The Play for Peace Soccer Tournament, first organized through Leg. Calarco’s office in conjunction with the Patchogue-Medford Youth Soccer League as a response to the Marcelo Lucero tragedy, is in its fifth year. In that time, the tournament has grown and become a tradition, the purpose of which is to bring the sports-loving community together to celebrate diversity, raise awareness, promote tolerance and raise money for local programs and organizations that actively promote ethnic peace, unity, and assimilation.