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Dayton World Soccer Games Return

City of Dayton
/
The Olhmann Group

Soccer fever swept around the globe in June during the World Cup playoffs. At the time, many local businesses saw a positive economic impact as fans gathered in restaurants and bars to watch the tournament.

On Friday and Saturday, world soccer is back—at least in the Miami Valley—as players from Dayton’s immigrant communities take to the field.

City of Dayton Youth Services Director Joe Parlette says the games were born out of the Welcome Daytoninitiative.

“[Welcome Dayton] really was just a public statement saying that Dayton is going to be, and be conscious and deliberate about being, an immigrant and refugee friendly city,” Parlette said.

Twenty-eight teams, including nine adult teams, have signed on to compete this year, and Parlette expects an increase in spectators.

“So, its really fun for us to come together as a community," he said. "Celebrate our differences doing the same thing that most of the world enjoys, which is soccer.”

Dayton’s immigrant population is about 4 percent but growing because of war and violence in Syria, Somalia, Iraq and other places.

The Dayton World Soccer games kick off Friday night at Action Sports Center in Dayton, when firefighters and police go head-to-head in a scrimmage match, followed by a 'parade of nations.'

Jerry began volunteering at WYSO in 1991 and hosting Sunday night's Alpha Rhythms in 1992. He joined the YSO staff in 2007 as Morning Edition Host, then All Things Considered. He's hosted Sunday morning's WYSO Weekend since 2008 and produced several radio dramas and specials . In 2009 Jerry received the Best Feature award from Public Radio News Directors Inc., and was named the 2023 winner of the Ohio Associated Press Media Editors Best Anchor/News Host award. His current, heart-felt projects include the occasional series Bulletin Board Diaries, which focuses on local, old-school advertisers and small business owners. He has also returned as the co-host Alpha Rhythms.
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