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 Inventive Program in Burundi uses Table Tennis to Promote Peace
Bujumbura (Burundi), December 21 - Peace and Sport, the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and Olympic Solidarity joined forces to organize a week of table tennis inductions for young coaches and sports educators in youth centres in Burundi.
These high-level training sessions are the first phase of a program called "Ping Pong Paix" (Ping-Pong for Peace) which will enable more than 400 young boys and girls from 4 youth centres in Burundi (Gihanga and Gitega), and the DRC (Luvungi and Bwegera) to play table tennis at least twice a week in a supervised environment.
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Peace and Sport and the Jack Brewer Fondation join forces to promote global sport-based social projects
JBF Founder and Executive Director Jack Brewer named Chairman of Peace and Sport USA and will host a launch event to introduce the initiative tonight in New York
New York, NY – December 12, 2011: Peace and Sport and The Jack Brewer Foundation (JFB Worldwide) today announced a strategic partnership to mobilize their respective resources and networks to enhance peace building and social cohesion activities through sport with their latest global initiative, Peace and Sport USA in which Mr. Brewer will serve as Chairman.
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Baseball to Combat Violence in Colombia
On 18 November, Colombian-born international Baseball MLB player Julio Alberto Teheran was in the slum areas of Cartagena to launch “Beisbol por la Paz”, a program using baseball to prevent juvenile delinquency in Cartagena and Medellin.
The 3-year program “Beisbol por la Paz” (Baseball for Peace) aims to bring structure and supervision into the lives of marginalized young people from 8 to 16 years old drawn to violence and street gangs in two of the most unsafe cities in Colombia.
The program is led by the Colombian and the International Baseball Federations (IBAF), in collaboration with “Peace and Sport, L’Organisation pour la Paix par le Sport” with the support of the Major League Baseball, Ecopetrol, Kenko, Grupo Internacional de la Paz and Fundauniban.
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The First Peace and Sport Table Tennis Cup Set to Make History
Table Tennis players from North Korea and South Korea, Pakistan and India will compete in mixed pairs in Doha, Qatar on 21 and 22 November.
MONACO, 15 November 2011 – 40 years after “Ping-Pong Diplomacy” helped to restore diplomatic relations between USA and China during the Cold War, Table Tennis is about to make history again by uniting North Korea and South Korea, India and Pakistan through sport!
Today, “Peace and Sport, l’Organisation pour la Paix par le Sport” proudly approved the provisional doubles pairings draws made by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) for the "Peace and Sport Table Tennis Cup", a historic table tennis tournament conceived to encourage dialogue and reconciliation between nations, which will be held in Qatar on 21 - 22 November 2011.
Provisional pairings for the 10 participating nations are as follows:
1. PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA (China) paired with QATAR
2. FRANCE with JAPAN
3. INDIA with PAKISTAN
4. Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) with Republic of Korea (South Korea)
5. USA with RUSSIA
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Gymnastics to Fight Delinquency in Colombia
Pan American Gymnastics champion joins program to help social outcasts in slum areas of 4 Colombian cities: Bogota, Medellin, Cali and Guapi
On November 11, Colombian gymnastics champion, Pan American Silver medallist in the All-around competition and Champion for Peace Jorge Hugo Giraldo launched “GIMNASIA POR LA PAZ” (Gymnastics for Peace) in Bogota, a program using gymnastics to support women’s empowerment and social integration and prevent juvenile delinquency.
This program was initiated by “Peace and Sport, L’Organisation pour la Paix par le Sport” along with the International Federation of Gymnastics (FIG), in collaboration with Ecopetrol, the Colombian Gymnastics Federation and 4 local Non-Governmental Organizations (Colombianitos, FFUNDAMOR, Creo En Mi and the Foundation San Antonio).
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Round-Up of 5th Peace and Sport International Forum ‘Sport Must go Everywhere it's Needed for Peace’
Monaco, 28 October 2011 – After 3 days of debates and discussions, the 5th edition of the Peace and Sport International Forum finished today with a commitment from all delegates present to bring a message of peace through sport to every region in the world which expresses the need.
In front of 500 decision-makers from sport, politics and the private sector gathered together for this important annual event in the presence of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, Joel Bouzou, President and Founder of the organization, emphasized the exceptional collective determination that drives members of the Peace and Sport community: “As with previous editions, the 2011 edition of the Forum was straight-talking and did not have a fixed agenda. Discussions were harsh at times with divided opinions, but we all felt that everyone wanted to lay on the table what they had in their hearts, to try to bring solutions to use sport for peace in the best possible way”.
The key moment of the Forum was the joint proposal by H.E. Professor Manuel HASSASSIAN, Ambassador to the General Delegation of Palestine in Great Britain, Avraham BURG, former Speaker in the Knesset and Alain LEROY, former Under Secretary-General responsible for UN peace-keeping operations (DPKO). In an exceptional meeting, these 3 participants called on Peace and Sport to play the role of ‘Third Party’ and be a neutral mediator to organize a Regional Forum for peace through sport between Jerusalem and Ramallah.
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Peace through Sport Takes First Place on the Podium
Gustavo Kuerten, IAAF, Club Med Foundation, UN agencies, the East Africa Cup and PeacePlayers International win Peace and Sport Awards in Monaco
Monaco, 27 October 2011 - Peace through sport in action is epitomized by seven outstanding initiatives and people, who have been given awards tonight at the 4th Peace and Sport Awards Ceremony. The winners this year put the spotlight on actors from the sports world who have made peace and social cohesion a reality in 2011.
Tonight, H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco and Joel Bouzou, President and Founder of “Peace and Sport L’Organisation pour la Paix par le Sport " have distinguished 7 terrific achievements that embody what sport can do to build bridges between divided communities and promote dialogue.
And for the first time, the organization has chosen to reward an athlete for displaying exceptional commitment.
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9 World-Famous Athletes Sign Up for Peace!
Nine new "Champions for Peace" to promote world reconciliation and dialogue
Monaco, 27 October 2011 – Launched in 2009 at the initiative of the international organization Peace and Sport, "Champions for Peace”, a group of famous athletes committed to serve world peace through sport is boosted by the arrival of nine new stars of the podium:
- cyclist PHILIPPE GILBERT (Belgium) who has just been awarded the prize for the best professional cyclist of the year by the International Cycling Union
- American multi-record-winning swimming legend DONNA DE VARONA (USA)
- Baseball legend EDGAR RENTERIA (Colombia)
- Latin American champion in gymnastics HUGO GIRALDO LOPEZ (Colombia)
- former European champion and three-time runner up World Champion in figure skating SURYA BONALY (France)
- former ju-jitsu World Champion , GREGORY VALLARINO (Uruguay)
- Olympic medallist alpine skier Florence Masnada (France)
- multiple world champion in sambo, FEDOR EMELIANENKO (Russia)
- World Champion in sprint paracanoe PATRICK VIRIAMU (French Polynesia)
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“Let’s Build Peace Through Sport Together”, Heads of State Declare
The appeal to use sport as a tool for peace has been thrown open to leaders throughout the world.
Monaco, 26 October 2011 - Heads of State are becoming increasingly determined to work for peace through sport. 500 leaders who were gathered today in Monaco for 5th Peace and Sport International Forum demonstrated this common wish when four Heads of State called for the consolidation of peace through sport.
"Since I have been elected President, my commitment to sport has remained unchanged", H.E. Pál Schmitt, President of the Republic of Hungary confided. “One of my undertakings as President is to promote “sport for all” instead of elite sport. I managed to bring the Olympic Spirit into politics. It means that every day we have to do something for peace: something that reinforces democracy, something that enables dialogue, helps tolerance and understanding. We can also say that peace is not only the absence of war, but a well-balanced state with ourselves, with our community, with neighbouring nations and wherever reigns a culture of tolerance and dialogue”.
"Through its power to attract, mobilize and inspire individuals, communities and nations, sport helps us promote the ideas of peace, tolerance, justice, non-violence and solidarity" declared the President of Former Yugoslavia Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), H.E. Gjorge Ivanov. "Sport promotes reconciliation, especially in multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-lingual societies. Sustainable peace and development implies a world with responsible individuals as part of responsible societies that encourage pro-active behaviour.”
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The 5th Peace and Sport International Forum Prepares for Take-off
Over 500 decision-makers from 100 countries convene in the Principality of Monaco to put sport at the service of peace.
Monaco, October 25, 2011 - An influential community of sporting, political and economic leaders will meet in Monaco tomorrow for the 5th edition of the Peace and Sport International Forum to discuss sport’s contribution to establishing and maintaining peace in sensitive areas of the world.
Placed under the High Patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, in a neutral and apolitical environment this unique summit will bring together more than 500 experts and prominent figures from 100 countries.
Notably, there will be more than 50 official government delegations, famous sports champions, major international organizations, 30 Olympic and non-Olympic International Sports Federations, 20-members of the International Olympic Committee, 40 Presidents of National Olympic Committees, private sector companies and numerous field operators (NGOs and associations).
Five Heads of State will also speak: H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco; the King of Lesotho H.R.H. Letsie III; the President of the Republic of Burundi H.E. Pierre Nkurunziza; the President of the Republic of Hungary H.E. Pál Schmitt, and the President of Former Yugoslavia Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) H.E. Gjorge Ivanov.
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Peace and Sport joins forces with UNESCO
Paris, 19 October - UNESCO and ‘Peace and Sport L’Organisation pour la Paix par le Sport’ today signed a Partnership Agreement at the 7th UNESCO Youth Forum, which is being held from 17 to 20 October at UNESCO Headquarters.
The objective of this partnership is to promote the role of sport as a vehicle for peace, particularly in Africa in areas affected by armed conflict or natural disaster, by strengthening cooperation between Peace and Sport, whose mission is to put sport at the service of peace in vulnerable areas of the planet, and UNESCO, which promotes a culture of non-violence through sport.
The first actions undertaken as part of this partnership will be: to define an emergency response plan for post-conflict and post-disaster situations, using sport as a tool for social integration, mental resilience and overcoming trauma; to develop social entrepreneurship through sport; to manage an online database of best practices in peace through sport that can be duplicated by actors in the field (NGOs and associations); to monitor the impact of projects in order to improve effectiveness in the field; to set up a system for following the progress of recommendations made during international conferences on sport, peace and development, so that they are consistent and actions of various stakeholders are coordinated.
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Peace and Sport Image of the Year Unveiled: A Peace Demonstration by Child Skateboarders in Kabul
Monaco, 11 October 2011 – During the 22nd Georges Bertellotti Golden Podium Awards of SPORTELMonaco, Peace and Sport L’Organisation pour la Paix par le Sport made a sneak preview announcement of the winner of the prestigious Peace and Sport Image of the Year Award 2011.
For the last four years, this prize has rewarded the best image of fraternity through sport or a symbolic moment showing the ability of sport to advance peace in the world and to encourage reconciliation among nations. It is awarded in partnership with SPORTELMonaco and Getty Images digital media agency.
The Peace and Sport Image of the Year Award was won by a photograph taken in the streets of Kabul (Afghanistan) during international Go Skateboarding Day on 21 June 2011.
The photo shows young skateboarders, both boys and girls, taking to the streets of the Afghan capital to celebrate the friendship and solidarity that unites children all over the world through the practice of skateboarding, regardless of race, religion, social status or gender.
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Peace and Sport and TRACE Sports team up for peace
Paris-Monaco, 3rd October 2011.
“Peace and Sport” the international organization under the High Patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, and TRACE Sports, the new brand from the TRACE Group dedicated to sports celebrities, have joined forces to publicize the work of sports champions who act as ambassadors of peace.
In addition to being top-level athletes, many champions also work for peace and commit themselves to helping vulnerable communities throughout the world which are trying to reconstruct after conflict or suffer from extreme poverty. To support these champions’ projects and expand the scope of their operations, Peace and Sport and TRACE Sports have combined forces.
Founded in 2007 by Joel Bouzou, Modern Pentathlon athlete and world champion, Peace and Sport aims to use the values of sport to help educate young generations, encouraging dialogue between populations and more broadly helping nations to improve social cohesion. Since the club was launched, 56 top athletes such as tennis player Novak Djokovic, rugby players Sebastien Chabal and Jonah Lomu, footballer Christian Karembeu, and athletes Cathy Freeman and Yelena Isinbayeva have become Champions for Peace, giving their time to benefit humanitarian and social welfare projects.
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Sport helps social inclusion and good governance in Burundi
A youth centre is opened in Gitega thanks to unprecedented cooperation between local, European and international stakeholders
Gitega, Burundi, 27 September, 2011 - Disadvantaged youngsters in the town of Gitega, Burundi, can now enjoy many sports, cultural and educational activities aimed at improving their social, personal and professional development.
This positive development has been made possible by the new youth centre in the town, the culmination of a program launched in 2007 aimed at putting sport and its pedagogic values at the service of education for vulnerable youth and community development.
Sport for reconciliation
Burundi is on the United Nation’s list of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and is still suffering from the aftermath of ethnic conflict, enforced population displacement and extreme poverty. Sport is an important means of reconciling communities and bringing about peace. It promotes diversity and social integration by teaching values such as self-respect and respect for others, solidarity, tolerance, perseverance and non-discrimination.
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Tens of Thousands of People on all Five Continents will Celebrate the International Day of Peace with Sport
Monaco, 20 September 2011 - To mark the International Day of Peace on September 21, 25,000 people living in the poorest areas of the world will celebrate the values of peace and understanding between nations by speaking a universal language: the language of sport.
At the initiative of "Peace and Sport", an international organization under the High Patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, youth centres and sports clubs in Côte d’Ivoire, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Timor-Leste, Haiti, Colombia and Israel-Palestine will hold special Open Days to promote the values of sport and show how these values can make a sustainable impact on peace and reconciliation within hostile communities.
More than 4,000 young people and 20,000 spectators of all ages will simultaneously take part in this unique operation. On the agenda: sports competitions and demonstrations, introduction to a variety of sports activities and cultural events, with the aim of spreading messages of reconciliation, tolerance and understanding.
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Tristar International Triathlon Monaco : Charity collection of sports equipment for peace in Côte d'Ivoire
Monaco, 1 September, 2011 - bikes, shoes, tennis balls and rackets, stop watches, sports clothes… participants and spectators of the Monaco TriStar International Triathlon (formerly the Ironman) in the Principality on Sunday 4th September are invited to donate their sports equipment to young people in Ivory Coast.
Initiated by Star Events Production, the Triathlon organizer, in collaboration with "Peace and Sport, l’Organisation pour la Paix par le Sport" a neutral organization under the High Patronage of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, this major operation is a first for the Monaco Triathlon.
Thanks to the generosity of participants and fans, Peace and Sport and Star Events Production hope to collect 2 tons of sports equipment to send to Ivory Coast, an unstable country still plagued by violent upheavals. Peace and Sport has worked in Ivory Coast since 2007 to promote peace, dialogue, education and social stability, through the deployment of sports programs for young people.
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Timor Leste Runs for Peace
DILI (TIMOR LESTE) June 18, 2011 – Over 5,000 people gathered today in the streets of Dili, capital city of Timor-Leste, to participate in the country's inaugural "Run for Peace".
The aim of this exceptional and federative sporting meet (entitled 'Halai Ba Dame' in Tetun language) was to celebrate the country's social cohesion and national unity after years of violence and crises.
It was organized by the Timor Athletics Federation, the "Dili, City of Peace" campaign team and Peace and Sport, the international organization that works for peace through sport, under the High-Patronage of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco. Thousands of people from all social and cultural backgrounds, religions, ages and genders, gathered for this symbolic 7 km race in the streets of the city to share the values of friendship, tolerance, diversity and dialogue epitomized by sport.
The Run for Peace was much more than a simple sports event. A Tree of Peace was planted on the starting line of the race to embody the desire of the Timorese to live in a peaceful environment. Thanks to the support of several NGOs and the UNMIT, the race also provided the opportunity to raise awareness about public health issues (such as nutrition, sexually transmitted diseases and family planning) and the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations amongst the population.
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Operation Poseidon 2011 / Extreme sport champion Pierre Frolla makes incredible dive to retrieve the F1 Monaco Grand Prix chequered flag
A daring feat to defend the cause of peace through sport
On Friday, May 27, 2011– As a side event to the F1 Monaco Grand Prix, Pierre Frolla, multi‐record‐holder in free diving, today took on a spectacular challenge for a good cause.
"Operation Poseidon 2011" involved a stunning apnoea dive in the bay of Monaco to retrieve the official chequered flag of the 69th Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix, the same morning plunged at a depth of more than 60m at the bottom of the sea in front of Monaco's Oceanographic Museum!
The flag which will herald the start of the F1 Grand Prix on Sunday will be auctioned in the near future and the proceeds will go to "Peace and Sport, L'Organisation pour la Paix par le Sport" a charity organization which uses sport to encourage dialogue and social stability throughout the world. The wetsuit that Pierre wore for the dive will also be auctioned along with jewellery worth €10,000 donated by WK MONACO, and a watch worth €10,000 donated by DELACOUR.
This unique operation in the style of the film 'The Big Blue' took place today at 12pm in the presence of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, Joel Bouzou, President and founder of Peace and Sport and many other famous personalities.
Pierre jumped into the sea from a helicopter accompanied by the Sovereign Prince's two nephews, (Princess Caroline of Hanover's sons) Andrea and Pierre Casiraghi.
The Grand Prix chequered flag had previously been autographed by all of the Grand Prix racing drivers participating in the 69th Monaco Grand Prix as well as some of the greatest athletes in the world during the Monaco Tennis Open 2011, including Rafael NADAL, Novak DJOKOVICH, Roger FEDERER, Andy MURRAY, Gaël MONFILS, Sébastien LOEB and Daniel ELENA as well as H.S.H. PRINCE ALBERT II and Pierre FROLLA.
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Ping-Pong Diplomacy returns
Rotterdam (Netherlands), May 10, 2011 - During the GAC GROUP 2011 World Table Tennis Championships currently taking place in Rotterdam, the international organization Peace and Sport and the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) announced a "Peace and Sport Table Tennis Cup" – a historic Table Tennis tournament aimed to encourage dialogue and good relations between nations – which will take place in Doha, Qatar on 21-22 November 2011.
Organized by the Qatar Tennis Table Association with the support of the Qatar National Olympic Committee, under the leadership of ITTF and the guidance of Peace and Sport, this is an unprecedented sports event that will break political tensions and unite nations in a way that only table tennis can.
Based on 'Ping-Pong Diplomacy', the famous event that provided the catalyst for US-China relations back in 1972, the Peace and Sport Table Tennis Cup will use the power and core values of sport as a driving force to promote peace and unity.
Onlookers will include key government officials and diplomats from each of the competing nations, fostering political communication and relations at the highest level.
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Radcliffe, Loroupe and Kipketer team up for Peace and Sport in the 2011 ING New York Marathon!
20 amateur runners will have the unique opportunity to train with these 3 legendary runners in the world's biggest race.
Monaco, May 6 2011 - For the first time, the international organization Peace and Sport, under the High Patronage of Prince Albert II of Monaco, will take part in the ING New York Marathon on 6 November, 2011.
The organization which works to reconcile crisis-struck communities and to encourage dialogue and social stability through sport will participate as an official charity in the world's most prestigious longdistance race.
Peace and Sport has been attributed 20 entries which will be allocated to people expressing their desire to actively contribute to Peace and Sport's cause. Applications are now open, and anyone keen to be part of this initiative is invited to apply by clicking on this link.
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Novak Djokovic Embraces the Cause of Peace through Sport
MONACO, 16 APRIL, 2011 – FROM THE MONTE-CARLO ROLEX MASTERS, CURRENTLY TAKING PLACE IN MONACO, ATP WORLD n°2 NOVAK DJOKOVIC TODAY JOINED THE "CHAMPIONS FOR PEACE" CLUB, A GROUP OF OVER 50 TOP-LEVEL INTERNATIONAL SPORTS PEOPLE COMMITED TO PROMOTE PEACE IN THE WORLD THROUGH SPORT.
Created by "Peace and Sport, l'Organisation pour la Paix par le Sport" based in the Principality of Monaco under the High Patronage of HSH Prince Albert II, the Champions for Peace club now counts 55 exceptional champions who wish to actively contribute to a true culture of peace in the world by promoting sport and its values.
His unusual profile and charisma make "Djoko" a perfect champion to spread awareness of this cause to the millions of young tennis fans throughout the world for whom Novak is an icon.
Beyond his outstanding performances and his fame, Djokovic will contribute to Peace and Sport's mission to use sport as a tool for dialogue, social integration and education for thousands of vulnerable young people living in underprivileged areas in the world.
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Another 8 International Federations sign up to use their sport for global peace
London, 7 April 2011 – During the SportAccord Convention taking place in London, another 8 Olympic and non-Olympic international sports federations announced that they are joining the Peace and Sport community to promote peace across the globe.
The Federations are:
- the International Cycling Union (Union Cycliste Internationale – UCI);
- the International Mountaineering and Climbing Association (UIAA)
- the International Triathlon Union (ITU)
- the Federation International Amateur Sambo (FIAS)
- the Federation International of Gymnastics (FIG)
- the International Sepak Takraw Federation (ISTAF)
- the International Archery Federation (FITA)
- the International Korfball Federation (IKF).
Through their alliance with the international organization Peace and Sport, the Federations will underpin initiatives they have already undertaken to promote peace, social cohesion and education in disadvantaged areas of the world.
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Bidding is now open for the Peace and Sport International Forum in 2014 and 2016!
For the first time, the international organization Peace and Sport is calling on interested cities to bid to host the 8th and 10th Peace and Sport International Forums, scheduled respectively in October 2014 and October 2016.
Boosted by the success of this major international event, Peace and Sport announced that it will hold its annual International Forum outside the Principality of Monaco every alternate year, in order to encourage participation from a diversified public and reinforce international cooperation for sustainable peace across the globe.
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Badminton helps peace and social integration in Colombia
From 20-23 February 2011, Pedro Alejandro Yang, badminton champion of Guatemala and Peace and Sport "Champion for Peace" was in Colombia to launch "BADMINTON POR LA PAZ" (Badminton for Peace), a program using badminton and its values to teach a culture of peace to young underprivileged Colombians and to support their social integration.
This program is initiated by Peace and Sport, L'Organisation pour la Paix par le Sport, under the High Patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert II de Monaco and by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) in collaboration with equipment supplier Yonex, Badminton Panam, 3 local NGOs (Colombianitos, FFUNDAMOR and the Foundation San Antonio), the Colombian Badminton Federation, the National Olympic Committee and the Deportes Colombia Foundation.
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Sochi, the Russian Olympic City will Host the 6th Peace and Sport International Forum in 2012
Sochi (Russia) and Monaco, 18 February 2011 – Sochi, Host City to the first Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games on Russian soil in 2014, will also host the Peace and Sport International Forum in 2012.
The Host City contract was signed today in presence of the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, Dmitry Kozak, «Sochi 2014» President and CEO Dmitry Chernyshenko and Governor of Krasnodar Region Alexander Tkachev by Anatoly Pakhomov, Mayor of Sochi, and Joel Bouzou, President and Founder of Peace and Sport.
During the signature ceremony, which took place in the newly opened Roza Khutor mountain resort, Anatoly Pakhomov, Mayor of Sochi, declared: "We are proud to host an event of such prestige in Sochi, thus reiterating our commitment to supporting the values and ideals of peace disseminated by the sports world and the Olympic Movement. Sport is one of the best vectors for rapprochement, mutual comprehension and peace that mankind has invented. The 6th Peace and Sport International Forum in Sochi will spread this message with conviction to young people the world over; particularly in Russia, but also in the Caucasus region, in Europe and in Asia."
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