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Dear Friends,
The peace through sport movement is gaining ground. Since its creation in 2007, Peace and Sport has accompanied those carrying out local projects, in countries which are undermined by conflicts and tensions, by using sport and its values. In the Ivory Coast, for example, at least three judo centres have been opened, in Bouaké, Marcory and Duékoué, where more than 600 children receive training and education oriented towards peace, solidarity and respect for others. Six years have passed since the launch of the first Peace and Sport programme, and I am proud to see an increase in new projects, as well as the durability of those already in the field.
These initiatives, often local and sometimes modest, will never make headline news. They will not have a wide media reach, but their impact is recognised, especially if it is sustainable.
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For six years now, we have also organised the Peace and Sport International Forum. This is where the highest authorities in the political, sporting and economic world, engaged in actions of peace through sport, meet to freely discuss a common objective: to cooperate, share expertise, and think up tailor-made initiatives which will allow sport to be put to the service of peace in the world. Much success has arisen from this gathering. Peace and Sport is proposing new platforms for discussions, such as the Continental Forum, which will take place in Dubai, and the workshop which took place in Costa Rica last month.
At the beginning of the year, South Africa organised the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. Without underestimating the talent and merits of the two finalist teams, Nigeria and Burkina-Faso, this year’s most important sporting event on the African continent will have been marked by Mali’s progress in the tournament. The Malian “Eagles” ended up losing in the semi-final, to the Nigerians. But judging by public opinion, they knew how to light up the tournament with their enthusiasm, solidarity and faith in the future. Above all, these African players succeeded – in the time it took to play a few football matches – in making a country plunged in a bloody conflict, forget the war. “We just want to bring joy to our country which is going through a difficult time.” admitted the captain of the “Eagles”, Seydou Keita. Obviously, they succeeded.
Can sport make us forget war? For a time, yes. The Malian players are the latest example. They did not stop weapons from firing, but their progress in the tournament brought hope. It returned pride to the Malian people. Sport will never stop bombs, but it can form a fantastic instrument in mobilising opinion, appeasing tensions and improving situations. Its power to mobilise, without equal in society, surpasses borders and goes beyond generational differences. Its structuring virtues provide a framework for preventing multiple wrongs which attack populations most exposed to violence, hatred and poverty. It has an effect on future generations and facilitates interactions between peoples and communities.
I hope you find this interesting,
Sportingly yours,
Joël Bouzou,
President and Founder of Peace and Sport
President of the World Olympians Association (WOA)
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New Champion for Peace: Honey Thaljieh
On the International women’s day, Mr. Bouzou has had the huge pleasure to welcome Honey Thaljieh as a new Champion for Peace. Former Captain of the Palestinian Women’s National Football Team, she was the first woman to play football in Palestine overcoming various social, political, and institutional challenges. She is recognized in Palestine as an active member of two distinguished national committees; the Palestinian Women's Football National Committee and the Supreme Council of Youth and Sports.
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You are a young Christian Palestinian Arab woman, you had the huge responsibility to be the Captain of the football team of your country and now you study in Europe, it sounds like a very interesting journey; can you tell us how it has been for you?
I come from an Arabic background and I now live in Europe. It is a very different environment. I can honestly tell you that it is not easy for me but I have the feeling I can adjust to different situations, I am convinced that at the end, everything will be ok.
This in-between situation also gives me mix feelings. When I am in Europe, it is like heaven. I feel that for people in Europe, there is no real obstacle. Comparing both situations often makes me sad. I would like my people to enjoy the same peaceful environment. I would like the children of Palestine to think about a brighter future rather than thinking about how they are going to survive for tomorrow. It is a great challenge for me to be in Europe. I have been a football player but I know life in a tough way.
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What’s your involvement for women in Palestine?
I am still involved in my club and the national team in Palestine. I organize the trips abroad for both. Sport provides a window to the outside world. This is important for women in Palestine. I am also involved in the Federation’s youth & Sport committee and I give speeches around the world.
Compared to where we all started, we have achieved great progresses. We now have 3 National football teams. I am glad it’s going well. It is a big honour for me to be part of this movement.
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We can easily imagine that it is not easy for a young woman to start a football career in Palestine. What kind of obstacles did you have to overcome?
It is not easy to be a female footballer. I had to overpass a lot of hurdles. I am coming from a Patriarchal Palestinian background, an occupied country with check points everywhere. One can easily imagine how difficult it can be to play football. The difficulty is also to overcome the financial situation, the lack of support, the lack of qualified coaches, trainers.
Being a Palestinian athlete is to face a lot of issues. The sole fact to travel abroad for playing a match, oblige you to go through check points. You can’t travel directly to your destination.
But it gives you the will to overcome the obstacles and show the world that there is no limit you can’t reach. I am convinced that in spite of difficult situations, sport has the power to change nations.
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How do you think sport can empower women in the world? How do you see this for your country?
Sport is a great tool to empower women, and through them, the whole communities. Women play a great role in educating the next generations. For this reason, they are key actors of change.
Sport liberates the mind and gives freedom to believe in one’s abilities. It gives us the force to overcome the challenges we face in our lives. Sport is hope. It can give smiles on children’s faces all around the world. No matter how different we are, sport unites us in a way we all understand each other better. This is why it is especially important in the Middle East.
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Today, on this special occasion, once again, you show your commitment to the peace through sport movement by joining Champions for Peace, what does this mean to you?
It means a lot to me. Since I am a little girl, I have followed 3 main objectives:
1. To empower and develop myself
2. To reach out to the world and tell everyone my story as a Palestinian
3. To work for a better future for family and the people of my country
I feel that becoming a Champion for Peace allows me to work on that officially. It gives me power and helps me fulfill my dream. It will help me to change other people lives. I want to convey the message of love and peace to the wider audience. I was born in Bethlehem. In my land, we don’t enjoy Peace. But we have it in our hearts. For all these reasons, I am very happy to become a Champion for Peace. I aim to put a smile on children’s faces. I am convinced that when you start doing that, you are then able to change the lives of many.
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How would you say sport has empowered you?
Sport has definitely helped me to become who I am. It has given me social recognition and freedom. When you are free in your mind, it doesn’t matter if you are surrounded by walls. |
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On the occasion of the 10th edition of the Central American Games in San José, Costa Rica, Peace and Sport organized in partnership with the Costa Rican Olympic Committee, ICODER (Instituto Costarricense del Deporte y la Recreación) and the Ministry of Sports, 2 workshops in order to promote peace through sport in the region.
On 1st March, 20 people from Sports Federations of Costa Rica ( fencing, judo, football…) as well as Cantonal Committees gathered in order to discuss how sport can be a tool to tackle social issues existing in the country, promote best practices, extract solutions that can be applied on the ground and encourage dialogue between entities represented.
The aim on the next day was to encourage cooperation between the sports movement for peace through sport in the region, in order to tackle more efficiently all common social issues faced. Five over 7 Central American CNOs (Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica and El Salvador) answered positively to the invitation and could share on the social programs each of them runs in his own country. The discussion coming to the conclusion that they could be stronger together, a decisive proposal was made unanimously: create a “Central American Commission for Peace through Sport”, with the support of Peace and Sport. The so called Commission’s objectives shall be as follows: offering a platform of collaboration and dialogue on “peace through sport” for the 7 Central American NOCs, encouraging them to build peace through sport programs at a national and regional level, defining a peace through sport strategy for the region, and building partnerships with other stakeholders (governments, civil society, media, private sector, public, …).
Next steps to found the Commission are being discussed and Peace and Sport will be following very closely the initiative which could bring great results, following the path of other European institutions such as EPAS (Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sports, under the umbrella of the Council of Europe).
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Rugby makes Peace in Ivory Coast
The Fédération Ivoirienne de Rugby in partnership with the International Rugby Board (IRB) and Peace and Sport - L’Organisation pour la Paix par le Sport - has launched a major new initiative to educate and sustainably reintegrate 200 young people left on the margins of society after the recent conflict in Ivory Coast.
"Viens jouer au Rugby, c'est la vie" (Come play Rugby, it’s life) underscores the collaborative commitment of all parties to use the powerful values of sport as a vehicle for social cohesion. With the Judo, Cycling and Wrestling International Federations running similar projects, there is a collective approach from the sports community for positive change in the country.
More than 200 young children aged 10 -18 from disadvantaged areas in Daloa, in the centre-west of the country, will benefit from the three-year program which combines touch Rugby to inspire and respect the basic rules of community life, respect and effort, with literacy classes to help reintegration into the educational system.
Charles Yapo, National Technical Director of the Ivorian Rugby Federation and leader of this project, said: "The Ivory Coast sincerely wants sustainable peace, and sport can help us. We want to inspire the youth of our country with the values of Rugby: solidarity, respect, and hard work which are all at the very heart of Rugby. That’s why we are launching Viens jouer au Rugby, c'est la vie - it is a perfect fit."
The project will benefit the young participants and their communities in the Ivory Coast and demonstrate to them and others the role Rugby and sport can play as a tool for developing friendships and peace while promoting health and education.
Joël Bouzou, President and Founder of Peace and Sport concluded: “Peace and Sport’s involvement in actions for peace-promotion through sport in Ivory Coast dates back to the 1st Peace and Sport International Forum in 2007. At the time, the Ivorian Government showed us that it was determined to make sport a basis for improved social relations in the country and convinced us to support this policy. Since then, we have worked hand in hand with local federations to reunite divided communities in the country. We are very happy that Rugby is now playing the role of peace-maker in Ivory Coast. This initiative demonstrates once again that sport is an amazing tool to give access to education and integration.” |
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Interview with Sabri Lamouchi
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Back from the CAN in South Africa, Sabri Lamouchi, former professional French Football Player, today Coach of the National Ivory Coast team, gave us a great pleasure visiting us and giving us this exclusive interview.
What positive impact sport brings to your life?
I could not live without sport, I find it inconceivable not to perform and that is what I try to teach to my children, that a life without sports is unfortunate. Beyond that, it is a great opportunity and privilege to practice my passion and live thanks to it, to travel, to discover wonderful places even less wonderful but still with nice people. It opens people’s mind, to see a little of what is happening elsewhere than home, and this is very rewarding. |
Being from Tunisia through your parents and now working in Ivory Coast, 2 countries with social cohesion’s problems, do you think sport has a role to play?
Do you remember the only victory of the French team, World Champion in '98? I remember when all the generations and communities black, white, arab were on the Champs Elysées were celebrating the World Cup victory. People forgot their identity issues, it was just a pure moment of joy and sharing. I just finished the CAN in South Africa and I said in my speech that we know that beyond the sporting exploit, it is possible to gather the 22 or 25 million Ivorians together and celebrate this achievement. Even if it is ephemeral, it is the beginning towards reconciliation, towards the possibility of sharing positive things together, which is not negligible in any way.
You are part of the Champions for Peace, what would you like to see achieve through this group of involved athletes?
It is great to see what is already done. What Peace and Sport tries to do by bringing all these Champions together is good, because we understood that with the help of athletes, people don’t need speeches, champion’s presence or participation educate people to be more responsible
What has been done is not much but it is for some people, we must continue on this path. It would be interesting to see the progress between the start of the peace through sport program and today. We have done much but not enough, but it is only the beginning and I am happy to be a part of it. |
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Guo Chuan Completes Solo Non-stop Global Voyage
Champion for Peace, Chinese sailor Guo Chuan finished his circumnavigation challenge in 137 days, 20 hours, 1 minute and 57 seconds as he piloted his Class 40 boat to the Olympic Sailing Center in east China’s Qingdao on the morning of April 5. The completion of the global voyage made him the first Chinese sailor that succeeded in sailing single-handed and non-stop around the world.
To learn more, click here
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version française
