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The Union between Peace and Sport and International Federations
is a driving force for peace at grassroots level

A year after SportAccord and Peace and Sport signed a strategic alliance, 35 member federations are working to give a new chance to young people in crisis-hit countries.


Monaco, 04 June, 2012 - the 10th edition of the SportAccord convention held in Quebec from 20 to 25 May marked the first anniversary of the partnership between SportAccord and “Peace and Sport l’Organisation pour la Paix par le Sport". At this significant time to evaluate their joint action, one thing is clear: their peace-building through sport programs have a made a vital social impact in the field.

Peace and Sport works with International Federations to implement pilot projects designed in response to particular social issues (community reconciliation, fighting poverty or crime, gender equality, restoring social cohesion, etc.). Over the past year, several programs have been achieved: in Colombia with Gymnastics, Baseball, Ju-Jitsu and Badminton; in Burundi with Table Tennis and Netball; in Timor-Leste with athletics, and in Israel-Palestine with Chess.

During the SportAccord Convention, 15 new federations expressed great interest in joining the Peace and Sport platform. With this level of motivation, new partnership agreements will soon be signed.

Taking this ambitious cooperation with Federations further, in his General Assembly speech Joël Bouzou, President and founder of Peace and Sport, outlined his organization’s new challenge: making sport accessible in the most difficult areas with very limited resources.

To do this, Peace and Sport has developed a pioneering concept of ‘adapted practices and materials’. Adapting a sports discipline to the reality of the field involves simplifying it, forgoing the need for sophisticated equipment. Using sports equipment made from inexpensive local resources and recycled products enables sport to be adapted to any local conditions.

Biathle, created by the UIPM can consequently be practised without facilities and is easy to implement in the most remote areas. Touch rugby, created by the International Rugby Board is a great collective sport that can be played on a rapidly-assembled pitch. And athletics can also be performed on new terrains.

President of Peace and Sport, Joël Bouzou explained "Sport doesn’t have to be sophisticated to be sport. With a structured environment and a set of rules which apply to everyone, you have conditions to facilitate dialogue and inspire peace. My ambition is to give International Federations a concept (adapted practices and materials) which will change the dynamic of their relations with governments and make sport an effective tool for peace."

For more information, please contact
Peace and Sport - Charlotte Arnaud

Email: ca@peace-sport.org
www.peace-sport.org


ABOUT PEACE AND SPORT

 “Peace and Sport, L’Organisation pour la Paix par le Sport” is a neutral international initiative.

Peace and Sport puts sport and its values at the heart of local development projects conducted within communities in crisis around the world. Exercising its missions in post-conflict zones, areas of extreme poverty or lacking social cohesion, Peace and Sport makes sport a vehicle for tolerance, respect, sharing and citizenship at the service of sustainable peace.

Supported by governments, world sport governing bodies, international organizations, major international private companies and international sports champions, Peace and Sport creates synergies between different stakeholders to carry out four types of action:

- Organizing an annual International Forum (next edition in Sochi, Russian Federation, 31 October - 2 November 2012
- A Resource Centre for sport and peace,
- The Peace and Sport Awards, to reward individuals and initiatives contributing to peace
- Locally-Based Projects; concrete actions in different regions of crisis in the world

Today, Peace and Sport has operations in Cote d'Ivoire, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Israel-Palestine, Timor Leste, Colombia and in Haiti.

Peace and Sport was founded by Joel Bouzou, current President of the organisation. Joel Bouzou is President of the World Olympians Association, former World Champion of Modern Pentathlon and current Secretary General for the International Union of Modern Pentathlon (UIPM). He is also an Advisor to H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco.

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