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Opinion

Mohamed Amine Zariat
Tibu Africa President and Founder

All opinions
01/06/2023 par Mohamed Amine Zariat

“Sport is a precious tool for promoting gender equality on and off the field of play”

“While sport is recognized as a beneficial practice for society as a whole, there are still very few girls and women taking part in sporting activities at the international level….

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S.E. Isabelle Picco

Opinion

H.E. Isabelle Picco
Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Monaco to the United Nations and Co-Chair of the Group of Friends of Sport for Development and Peace (GASDP)

All opinions
26/04/2023 par H.E. Isabelle Picco

In a polarized world, sport can create social ties

Her Excellency Isabelle Picco is Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Monaco to the United Nations and Co-Chair of the Group of Friends of Sport for Development and Peace (GASDP). Her commitment…

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Opinion

Céline Cottalorda
Inter-ministerial Delegate for Women's Rights - Monaco

All opinions
08/03/2023 par Céline Cottalorda

Changing Mentalities is Essential for Society to Evolve

The Committee for the Promotion and Protection of Women’s Rights in Monaco is responsible for coordinating public policies to promote equality between women and men and to combat violence and…

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Opinion

David Lappartient
President of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI)

All opinions
02/08/2022 par David Lappartient

“In Afghanistan, we have achieved what the political world could not do”

Chance has nothing to do with it. In the recent months, the name of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has been associated in two occasions with the refugee crisis. The…

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Opinion

Pascal Boniface
Director of the Institute for International and Strategic Relations (IRIS)

All opinions
16/05/2022 par Pascal Boniface

The Conflict in Ukraine: A Turning Point for the Sports Movement

“Make no mistake. The conflict in Ukraine could mark a turning point for the international sports movement. It will go down in history. For the first time, sports governing bodies…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
23/02/2022 par Joël Bouzou

Olympic Athletes in Beijing Took Peace into Their Own Hands

“I don’t think I’ve ever felt such an Olympic spirit from athletes at any Games”. This quote is from Thomas Bach. An expert on the subject, he won the gold…

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Opinion

Aminata Makou Traoré
Taekwondoist and President of APJS Mali

All opinions
08/10/2021 par Aminata Makou Traoré

In Mali, women are still distant from sport

“It was a bit of a coincidence that I discovered sport on television. A documentary on Pascal Gentil, the French multiple Taekwondo World Champion, was showing on a channel. I…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
27/09/2021 par Joël Bouzou

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games: 5 questions to Joël Bouzou, President and Founder of Peace and Sport

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games were a very special edition. Postponed, then on the verge of cancellation, the Games were finally maintained with a limited number of spectators. The President…

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Opinion

Hugo Florez
International Relations Director - COP Colombia

All opinions
09/08/2021 par Hugo Florez

Soccer, a unifying tool for peace

The story of COP (Constructors of Peace) Colombia started when my son, Gerson Florez, became the spokeperson of children affected by antipersonnel mines. He was then internationally recognized for its…

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Opinion

Pierre Gony
Founder and General Manager of Terres en Mêlées

All opinions
13/07/2021 par Pierre Gony

Promoting Peace and Empowering Youth Through Rugby in Africa

I have personally experienced the power of sport and suffered the harmful effects of not practicing sport. I was 13 years old when my coach forbade me to play matches….

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Opinion

Felicite Rwemarika
Founder and Executive Director of the Organization of Women in Sports (AKWOS)

All opinions
08/03/2021 par Felicite Rwemarika

“International Women’s Day offers an opportunity to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in their countries and communities”

Felicite Rwemarika was born in Rwanda, and she was forced to flee the country with her family due to the first massacre against the Tutsis in 1959. She stayed in…

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Opinion

Espen Lund
WAKO Vice-President

All opinions
14/01/2021 par Espen Lund

The Enthusiasm in the Eyes of Refugees in the Za’atari Camp Was Striking

“Athletes and coaches know – often from experience – that the best careers are built and developed by meeting the right people. The case is sometimes the same for sports…

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Opinion

Stanislas Frossard
Executive Secretary, « Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport » (EPAS), Council of Europe.

All opinions
05/11/2020 par Stanislas Frossard

Sport is a Right; a Right Set in Law

“Sport is everywhere today. It has gained ground in all areas of private and public life across the globe. Sport for all and elite sport. Sport played by multitudes, and…

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Opinion

Laëtitia Habchi
Manager Division Lien Social #Sport #Culture #Genre chez AFD - Agence Française de Développement

All opinions
05/10/2020 par Laëtitia Habchi

Sport is a remarkable tool for creating social bonds

“The timing is no coincidence. On Monday 21st September 2020, The Agence Française de Développement (AFD) launched its new online platform, called “Sport en Commun”. The launch coincided with the…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
19/09/2020 par Joël Bouzou

In the future, digital tools will break down the doors

“All over the world, the health crisis put a stop to sport: gyms were closed, playing fields left deserted and very few games played. The international sporting calendar was shaken…

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Opinion

Nicolas Messner
Media and Judo for Peace Director at the International Judo Federation

All opinions
09/09/2020 par Nicolas Messner

Facing the global health crisis, the judoka community gets mobilized

“Judo is not just a sport. It is much more. It’s impossible to reduce it purely to its sporting dimension. This has always been the case, going back to the…

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Opinion

André-Pierre Couffet
President of Monaco Women's Football Sports Association

All opinions
26/08/2020 par André-Pierre Couffet

For girls, a football club can be like a big family

“In Monaco, women’s football has never been a fad. Our club, the Monaco Women’s Football Sports Association (ASM FF), was founded in the 1970s. At the time, it was known…

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Opinion

Phocas Mpezindagano
Great Lakes Program Coordinator, Peace and Sport

All opinions
20/08/2020 par Phocas Mpezindagano

In Burundi, Students are Learning Peace through Sport

“My life and my career have always been paced by sport. My sport is judo, and I’m the Secretary General of the Burundi Judo Federation. I also worked for a…

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Opinion

Diana Gandega
Champion for Peace and member of Malian basketball team

All opinions
22/07/2020 par Diana Gandega

Giving youth what sport gave me

I started basketball at the age of 14 with the UNSS (School Sports Union) at school, in Paris’ 18th arrondissement, and then I continued in a club. I have an…

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Opinion

Siraj Al Hmoud
Blumont Senior Camp Manager, Za’atari refugee camp

All opinions
08/07/2020 par Siraj Al Hmoud

Displaced by War, United by Sports

“The Za’atari Camp is home to approximately 76,000 people who fled violent conflict in Syria, seeking refuge in Jordan. Each day across the bustling camp, children attend school; entrepreneurs run…

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Opinion

Rahul Mukherji
Pursuing Post Graduation in Sports Management from Indian Institute of Management, Rohtak, India

All opinions
24/06/2020 par Rahul Mukherji

Think peace through Olympic values and sports

In the current geopolitical and socio-cultural landscape with so much violence, hate, and intolerance, the world is finding it hard to be peaceful. The fundamental principles of Olympism and the…

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Opinion

Florent Pietrus
Former Captain of the French Basketball Team and Champion for Peace

All opinions
10/06/2020 par Florent Pietrus

Sharing positive values through sport

It is important to convey the values and benefits of sport. It’s a commitment that is very close to my heart. Even today, in 2020, we still see too much…

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Opinion

Trina Bolton
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State

All opinions
27/05/2020 par Trina Bolton

The U.S. Department of State Stays the Course with Sports Diplomacy

In this age of COVID-19, the world faces unrivaled challenges from the individual to the international levels. The earthshattering impact that Coronavirus has on the sports landscape is emblematic of…

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Opinion

Eli A. Wolff and Mary A. Hums
Power of Sport Lab and University of Louisville

All opinions

The Pillars of Connection, Innovation and Resilience in and through Sport

One of the world’s premier racing events, the Boston Marathon, did not take place this year as scheduled on Monday April 20. The cancellation of this classic race became another…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
27/04/2020 par Joël Bouzou

True Power of Sport Revealed for the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace

“Does the exceptional cause the extraordinary? The #WhiteCard campaign initiated by Peace and Sport on April6, the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, took place in exceptional circumstances…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
01/04/2020 par Joël Bouzou

Peace through Sport Isn’t Stopping. #WhiteCard for global solidarity.

“April 6, 2020, should have been a day of celebration. On this date as every year, the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace should have brought communities and…

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Opinion

Pyrros Dimas
Three-time Olympic Gold Medallist and Champion for Peace

All opinions
18/03/2020 par Pyrros Dimas

USING THE POWER OF SPORT TO “LIFT PEACE UP”!

“I won my first Olympic gold medal in 1992 at the Barcelona Games. I was 20 years old. I discovered the Olympic universe. I was born and lived my early…

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Opinion

Cédric Messina
CEO MyCoach

All opinions
05/03/2020 par Cédric Messina

Digitalization is breaking down barriers

“Life is often a succession of encounters. They intersperse our journey. They give it momentum and vigour. Our meeting with the Peace and Sport team at the end of 2018…

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Opinion

Kathy McAllister
Executive Director of GOALS Haiti and 2019 Peace and Sport Award winner

All opinions
19/02/2020 par Kathy McAllister

Football is Guiding Young People to School in Haiti

“For our organization, GOALS Haiti, and for all Haitians, 2020 is a notable anniversary. It marks the 10th anniversary of the country’s devastating earthquake which occurred just before 5:00 p.m….

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Opinion

Stéphane Diagana
Champion for Peace and World Champion in the 400m hurdles

All opinions
06/02/2020 par Stéphane Diagana

Sport, an indispensable subject in the school of life

With the way I have experienced sport, I know that it is a personal development tool for all young people. If we know how to accompany them in the practice…

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Opinion

Véronique Lebar
President Ethics and Sport Committee

All opinions
22/01/2020 par Véronique Lebar

Sport should guarentee a healthy environment for sportswomen

Respect and protection of women’s rights are essential for building a peaceful and inclusive society. Sport should uphold this by fighting against discrimination, mistreatment and abuse. Violence is real and…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
06/01/2020 par Joël Bouzou

“The Forum has grown greatly in Monaco”

“Odd-numbered years have been good to us. They have written Peace and Sport’s history in capital letters. Our organization was created in 2007. Two years later, we started the Friendship…

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Opinion

Surya Bonaly
Champion for Peace and ice skating Vice World Champion

All opinions
04/12/2019 par Surya Bonaly

“I want to give youngsters the help I missed so much”

“What would I have become without high performance sport? What would my life have been like without figure skating? More than twenty years after the end of my international career,…

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Opinion

Honey Thaljieh
1st Captain of the Palestine National Team and Champion for Peace

All opinions
21/11/2019 par Honey Thaljieh

“Gender equality in sport will come through directives”

“I discovered football when I was 7 years old. In Bethlehem, in my country Palestine. When I started, girls didn’t kick balls. Nobody accepted it. There was nothing for us….

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Opinion

Benjamin Boukpeti
Canoe Olympic medalist and Champion for Peace

All opinions
05/11/2019 par Benjamin Boukpeti

“Through Sport, We Help People to Integrate into the Workplace”

“Sport has changed my life. It has made me. It has brought me so much, including an Olympic medal – bronze – in the kayak single men’s slalom at the…

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Opinion

Sarah Ourahmoune
Boxing Vice-Olympic Champion and Champion for Peace

All opinions
23/10/2019 par Sarah Ourahmoune

“In order to change people’s lives, sport must become a habit”

“I believe in the power of sport. Life has taught me that it can change things and play a crucial part in inclusion and education. I’ve always thought this. Nowadays,…

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Opinion

Aya Medany
Champion for Peace and Pentathlon Vice World Champion

All opinions
09/10/2019 par Aya Medany

“Sport has made me stronger; I want to transmit that strength”

“Sport has changed my life. It has totally transformed it. Forever. Today I feel very different from my childhood friends, school friends and co-workers. Sport helped me to move away…

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Opinion

Florence Masnada, Habiba Ghribi, Fodé Ndao, Pascal Gentil
Champions for Peace

All opinions

“Sport must address climate change to promote peace”

“The slogan that the United Nations has chosen for the 2019 edition of the International Day of Peace – 21 September – calls for “Climate action for Peace”. This emphasizes…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
09/09/2019 par Joël Bouzou

“Champions for Peace: at our side for 10 years”

“The date is underscored by a thick line. On Wednesday, 11 December Peace and Sport International Forum 2019 will open in Monaco.  It will last for three days. Three days…

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Opinion

Vénuste Niyongabo
Champion for Peace and Olympic gold medallist in the 5000-metre run

All opinions
21/08/2019 par Vénuste Niyongabo

Without school, I will never become an Olympic champion

I will not forget. Never. I will not forget the experience I just had in August with Peace and Sport. On the occasion of the 10th edition of the Friendship…

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Opinion

Christian Karembeu
Footballer, Strategic Advisor of Olympiacos and Champion for Peace

All opinions
02/08/2019 par Christian Karembeu

Sport as a vehicle for unity

I grew up in a large family in New Caledonia. I had 17 brothers and sisters and we were part of the Nang tribe on Lifou Island. So I was…

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Opinion

Sylvia Poll
Champion for Peace, Swimming Olympic Gold Medallist

All opinions
22/07/2019 par Sylvia Poll

“New technologies have made sport more inclusive”

“Sport is changing. It’s changing quickly, faster than ever. With the arrival of new technologies, it has never been so global, connected and shared. The last Summer Olympics in Rio…

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Opinion

Claire McFarlane
Founder of Footsteps To Inspire, IIPT Ambassador for Peace, TEDx Speaker

All opinions
03/07/2019 par Claire McFarlane

Can sport change how we talk about rape? 

“There were so many people who were killed and massacred, but still I wish I was dead. I wouldn’t live with this burden.” The words spoken by a victim of…

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Opinion

Zsolt Moradi
10x WAKO World Champion and Champion for Peace

All opinions
19/06/2019 par Zsolt Moradi

“Sport can change the life of a refugee child”

“I had never been to a refugee camp before. I had never had the opportunity to see the reality of its inhabitants’ everyday lives. Last April, with Peace and Sport,…

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Opinion

Melissa Plaza
Champion For Peace, International Football Player, Double French Champion

All opinions
06/06/2019 par Melissa Plaza

“The World Cup 2019 may be a turning point”

  “On Friday 7 June, football will focus on women. On that day, the sport invented by men for men will put women on centre stage, who will take up…

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Opinion

Anita DeFrantz
IOC Vice-President

All opinions
22/05/2019 par Anita DeFrantz

HOW CAN WE MAKE THE OLYMPIC VILLAGE LAST FOREVER?

In one month, the Olympic Day will be celebrated around the world to promote participation in sport across the globe regardless of age, gender or athletic ability. It is also…

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Opinion

Hervé André Benoit
FISE Founder and Hurricane Group CEO

All opinions
13/05/2019 par Hervé André Benoit

The #WhiteCard has great success at FISE

“We couldn’t have dreamt it better. For three days, from 19 – 21 April, the International Extreme Sports Festival (FISE) wrapped up Peace and Sport’s 2019 #WhiteCard campaign in Hiroshima,…

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Opinion

Balla Dieye
Champion for Peace, Taekwondo African Champion

All opinions
25/04/2019 par Balla Dieye

“In Dakar, the entire stadium held up a white card”

I will never forget April 6, 2019. The emotion of this day will remain forever engrained in my memory. For the first time in my career, I decided to actively…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
01/04/2019 par Joël Bouzou

April 6 – Carte Blanche for a Better World

“Time doesn’t erase memories. It gives them meaning. Four years have passed since the first edition of our #WhiteCard campaign. I remember every detail: Peace and Sport were looking for…

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Opinion

Didier Drogba
Vice-President - Peace and Sport

All opinions
13/03/2019 par Didier Drogba

“Football has given me a voice; I want to use it to broadcast a message of peace”

“Football taught me everything. It changed my life. From my first games on the pavements of Abidjan until my last professional match in the United States last November, football has…

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Opinion

Laurence Fischer
Champion for Peace, Three times karate World Champion

All opinions
06/03/2019 par Laurence Fischer

“For some women, playing sport is a victory in itself”

“Being involved in charities has always been a natural thing for me. Even before the end of my Karate career in 2006, I wanted to transmit knowledge. I wanted to…

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Opinion

Blaise Matuidi
French professional football player, World Champion and Champion for Peace

All opinions
21/12/2018 par Blaise Matuidi

“Football is not just about kicking a ball”

“Sport has been my luck. It has opened doors that I never even dreamed of. I was born in Toulouse, where I discovered football at a very young age, following…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
20/09/2018 par Joël Bouzou

Friday 21 September, a date to celebrate and take action

The date is an important one. For Peace and Sport, the date of 21 September is always written in capital letters, as is 6 April, which marks International Day of…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
03/09/2018 par Joël Bouzou

An ideal for all continents and all generations

I’d dare to see it as a sign. Last month, just one week apart, the paradigm of peace through sport spread across continents and generations. It was written in the…

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Opinion

Helena Sukova
14-time Grand Slam doubles Champion. 2018 Hall of Fame inductee and Champion for Peace

All opinions
22/08/2018 par Helena Sukova

Tennis Leads the Way in Gender Equity

Was I born in the right place at the right time? Am I just lucky? As I look back, I think I can answer these two questions positively. I was…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
18/07/2018 par Joël Bouzou

The World Cup in Russia has broken down barriers

“The curtain has now fallen on the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Over a four-week period, the tournament celebrated football: Its magic, its universality and its power to captivate the…

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Opinion

Kashif Siddiqi
Former Pakistanese football player, co-founder of Football for Peace and Champion for Peace

All opinions
09/07/2018 par Kashif Siddiqi

During the World Cup and Elsewhere, Football Breaks Down Barriers

“No other sport is quite like Football. It undoubtedly has the capacity to break down barriers more than any other sporting discipline. Between peoples, between nations and between communities. I…

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Opinion

Claire Faucon
Director of Bergères-les-Vertus school

All opinions
27/06/2018 par Claire Faucon

Passion and Peaceful Fervour for Football!

We live in a violent world where, even though diplomacy plays its part, a pervasive element is omnipresent. Every day, news reporters tell us about the horror of conflicts erupting…

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Opinion

Marius Vizer
International Judo Federation President

All opinions
19/06/2018 par Marius Vizer

Judo For Peace, a Door Opener to World Peace

Since 2007, when I created the ‘Judo For Peace’ commission within the International Judo Federation, our organization, alone or in association with other structures, has been carrying out many projects…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
13/06/2018 par Joël Bouzou

“Now, it’s for footballers to play their part”

What a year! Less than four months have gone by since the PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games, but the world has already fixed its attention on another global sporting event. The…

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Opinion

Simone Galimberti
Co-Founder of ENGAGE, Inclusive Change Through Volunteering

All opinions
08/06/2018 par Simone Galimberti

Making basketball everyone’s game in Nepal

High degrees of vulnerability are deeply entrenched in Nepali society and, among the diverse groups facing daily discrimination and lack of opportunities, are those citizens of the country living with…

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Opinion

Yelena Isinbaeva
Double Olympic gold medalist, World pole vault champion and Champions for Peace

All opinions
18/05/2018 par Yelena Isinbaeva

Being a champion is not enough to set an example to young people

I wasn’t predestined to become a pole-vaulter. I could even have missed out on athletics altogether. I began playing sport very early in life, around 5 years old, and I…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
04/04/2018 par Joël Bouzou

Friday April 6th: The #WhiteCard Campaign Goes More Global Than Ever

The PyeongChang Olympic Games provided a forceful and eloquent illustration: sport can succeed where politics fail. The sight of the two Koreas walking together in a procession transmitted a worldwide…

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Opinion

Isabelle Yacoubou
Captain of the BasketBall French national team and Champion for Peace

All opinions
12/03/2018 par Isabelle Yacoubou

Sport Gave Me a Break, Now I Want to Help Others

I was born in Benin, Africa. It’s a poor country, with sparse conditions for playing sport and even more limited training resources. That’s how it was when I was young….

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Opinion

François Pienaar
Former captain of the Springboks and Champion for Peace

All opinions
05/03/2018 par François Pienaar

Athletes Have Opened the Door; Politicians are Rushing Through It

Major sporting events don’t only have winners and losers. They don’t only have the power to bring people together in stadiums or in front of their televisions. They inspire entire…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
27/02/2018 par Joël Bouzou

The Two Koreas Under the Same Flag…Extending the Flame

There’s a special image that will always make us think of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics: two athletes – a man and a woman – from the Korean delegation enter…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
12/02/2018 par Joël Bouzou

The two Koreas under the same flag is the first Olympic victory

Last friday, the entire world had its eyes turned towards Pyeongchang. Everyone watched the splendid pageant of the 2018 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony with excitement and emotion. During the delegations’…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
17/01/2018 par Joël Bouzou

Could sport bring us closer to peace in 2018?

What is the priority of sport for peace in 2018? Should we focus on teaching, so that sport can create social change at schools and universities around the world? Should…

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Opinion

Simone Galimberti
Co-Founder of ENGAGE, Inclusive Change Through Volunteering

All opinions
31/10/2017 par Simone Galimberti

United for Social Inclusion: The ENGAGE Sport Coaching Program

Since 2013 local youths with a great passion for basketball have decided to spend eleven months serving as ENGAGE Sport Coaches, ESCs the flagship program promoted by ENGAGE, a small…

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Opinion

Julia Lewandowski
Project coordinator of Ping Sans Frontières

All opinions
02/10/2017 par Julia Lewandowski

Developing a sustainable program promoting sports and education in Haiti

Haiti is a country with a strong history, while it is mostly known for being one of the poorest nations in the world; it is worth noticing that it was…

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Opinion

New Champions for Peace
Peace and Sport

All opinions

Making a difference as Champions for Peace

Nine new Champions for Peace are coming together for the International Day of Peace on 21 September to publicize the inspiring values of sport which have the capacity to push…

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Opinion

Emily Barry
Educational Programming, Promo Jeune Basket

All opinions
04/09/2017 par Emily Barry

Putting Learning into Action: The Impact of Experiential Leadership

Promo Jeune Basket has always believed that sport has the power to teach young people important values and lessons in their lives. The four program values – hard work, discipline,…

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Opinion

Jose de Jesus
Founder and President Many Hands One Nation

All opinions
27/08/2017 par Jose de Jesus

Integrating sport in peace building efforts in Timor-Leste

It is often said that the hope of a country is its children and youth. In that sense, Timor-Leste has much to be hopeful about, as it is still a…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
22/08/2017 par Joël Bouzou

Friendship Games, a force of unity in the African Great Lakes

The African Great Lakes region, especially Burundi, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has witnessed decades of war and ethnic conflict since their independence in the 1960s. Hostilities…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
24/07/2017 par Joël Bouzou

MINEPS VI: When Ministers Determine Ways of Making Sport a Stronger Tool for Peace

The Sixth International Conference of Ministers and Senior Officials Responsible for Physical Education and Sport (MINEPS VI) held in Kazan, Russian Federation was a fruitful opportunity for Peace and Sport to appeal…

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Opinion

Dan Gudgeon
Founder and coach of Football4Peace Korea

All opinions
10/07/2017 par Dan Gudgeon

Football 4 Peace on the Korean peninsula bridging North and South

Peace is much more than the absence of war and negative peace has endured on the Korean peninsula for decades. The continued division of the Korean people limits the realization…

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Opinion

Juan Carlos Sainz-Borgo
Dean for Cooperation Affairs of UPeace

All opinions

Developing people-to-people approaches through sport

“If you want peace you need to prepare for Peace”. Inspired by the motto of the University for peace, the Karamoja Cluster Project (KCP), a cross-border program through sport, was…

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Opinion

Lionel Zetter
Director of The European Azerbaijan Society (TEAS)

All opinions
26/06/2017 par Lionel Zetter

How Azerbaijan harnesses sport as an integration catalyst for its refugees and internally displaced persons

United Nations World Refugee Day on 20 June has reminded us of the recent wave of immigration to Europe, caused by the wars that currently ravage Iraq and Syria. This…

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Opinion

Tegla Loroupe, Garkuouth Puok Diep and John Anzrah
Chef de Mission of the Refugee Olympic Team and Champion for Peace - Long distance runner - Coach and Olympian

All opinions

Let’s join our voices for World Refugee Day

World Refugee day, marked on June 20, is an occasion to reflect about challenges refugees are facing in their everyday lives and opportunities that could be offered in host countries….

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
12/06/2017 par Joël Bouzou

Be the future of sport for development and peace

The world woke up with devastating news on June 4th: a third major terrorist strike in the UK in three months. That same week, within days, it was reported a…

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Opinion

Beatriz Mejía
Director of Grupo Internacional de Paz

All opinions
28/05/2017 par Beatriz Mejía

Sports in contexts of Conflict and Post-Conflict: Beyond healthy use of spare time and the promotion sport values

In social contexts with a history of conflict, sport for community development transcends the idea of a healthy alternative to use spare time and becomes a tool to develop skills…

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Opinion

Roald Bradstock
Olympic athlete and UK Legacy Ambassador for Youth Sport Trust

All opinions
21/05/2017 par Roald Bradstock

Sport and Art: The Connections, the Similarities and the Opportunity to Create a New Platform to Promote Peace

As an athlete and an artist, I struggled for years to balance both sport and art in my life. But on my journey to becoming an Olympic athlete and then…

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Opinion

Simone Galimberti
Co-Founder of ENGAGE, Inclusive Change Through Volunteering

All opinions
17/05/2017 par Simone Galimberti

Turkish Airlines EMPOWERING league, a milestone in adaptive sport

In a recent skype conversation with Nicolai Zeltinger, the Head Coach of the German male wheelchair basketball team and the Coach of the RSV Lahn-Dill, the German, we learned how…

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Opinion

Fahoum Fahoum
Arab-Israeli peace activist and Graduate of Columbia University

All opinions
07/05/2017 par Fahoum Fahoum

What Sport Means for Peace in the Middle East

Sports promotes cooperation, builds a common identity, and provides an overarching language to communities in conflict. I learned it first hand, because tennis changed my life. Growing up as a…

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Opinion

Isadora Cerullo
Rugby sevens player and Olympic athlete

All opinions
01/05/2017 par Isadora Cerullo

Effective Dialogue to Create Change: Breaking the Silence and Stepping out of the Comfort Zone

At the beginning of April, I participated in the Harvard and MIT Brazil Conference, an event organized by students at these institutions with the mission of bringing together brilliant minds…

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Opinion

Dikaia Chatziefstathiou
Reader in Olympic Studies and the Social Knowledge of Sport, Canterbury Christ Church University

All opinions

Academics and Practitioners: Bridging the Gap for Peace

As an academic, practitioners want to understand my knowledge, and I want to understand their experience. Combining knowledge and experience can only promote the cause of peace through sport. However,…

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Opinion

Mihalis Monemvasiotis
Founder and Director Eleven Campaign

All opinions
18/04/2017 par Mihalis Monemvasiotis

The Role of Digital Media across the Peace Through Sport Movement

We have all just witnessed an incredible 4th edition of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace. With a record number of projects from every corner of the world,…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
10/04/2017 par Joël Bouzou

Translating April 6 into a global mobilization

The international community, activated by Peace and Sport, engaged last week in a successful mobilization, which proved that sport generates positive social change in the world. On the 4th edition of…

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Opinion

Marlene Harnois
Taekwondo Olympic Medalist and Champion for Peace

All opinions
03/04/2017 par Marlene Harnois

Culture, Education and Sport work well together on April 6

Sport is far more than a form of entertainment. It is also a potential catalyst for the promotion of education and culture beyond being essential to human development. Sport is…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
26/03/2017 par Joël Bouzou

“Show us where you play your peace” with a #WhiteCard

Since the launch of the #WhiteCard campaign 4 years ago, more and more people have identified with the values of it and today, more than 28 million people have seen…

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Opinion

Samuel Azout
Founder and Chairman Futbol con Corazon

All opinions
18/03/2017 par Samuel Azout

Replicating Football for Peace in Colombia: The Community Empowerment Model

On November 24th, 2016, the government of Colombia signed a peace agreement with FARC[1], putting an end to a 50-year-old internal conflict. The country’s number one priority is the successful…

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Opinion

Kate Roff
Editor Peace News www.peacenews.com

All opinions
12/03/2017 par Kate Roff

Sport: Often the first step towards peace

The town of Pinga in the DRC has been the site of horrific violence. Rebel groups and government forces clashed there as part of the country’s ongoing civil war, and…

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Opinion

Maria Toorpakai
Top ranked squash player, founder of the Maria Toorpakai Foundation and Champion for Peace

All opinions
05/03/2017 par Maria Toorpakai

Let’s dream big on the Women’s Day

People say that behind every successful man, there is a woman. But I believe that also behind every successful woman there is a man. At the International Women’s Day, I…

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Opinion

Angel David Rodriguez
Two times Olympian and Champion for Peace

All opinions
26/02/2017 par Angel David Rodriguez

Athletes leading social change through sports

Throughout the course of history many athletes have spoken out in favor of social issues. Their actions and commitment have demonstrated that sportspersons can play an important role inciting social…

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Opinion

Michael J. Rosenkrantz
University of Arizona Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team

All opinions
20/02/2017 par Michael J. Rosenkrantz

Ability 360: Changing the Game for Athletes with Disabilities

Recently I attended a junior’s wheelchair basketball tournament at Ability 360. This is a 62,000-square-foot universally designed, accessible and transit-oriented non-profit resources center serving the disability community in the Greater…

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Opinion

Nada Al-Nashif
Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences, UNESCO

All opinions
13/02/2017 par Nada Al-Nashif

Quality sport means uniting efforts

Sport is a universal language. I think we all understand its potential. To harness this potential, we need the interface of social science research, young people and government – this…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
06/02/2017 par Joël Bouzou

Making peace a reality – a Colombian example

“Good wishes alone will not ensure peace”, said Alfred Nobel. Last week at the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates, I was pleased to see so many young people and…

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Opinion

Dr. Alexander Cárdenas
Peace advocate and SDP researcher from Columbia

All opinions

Sharing experiences from research on sport and peace building in Colombia and Northern Ireland

The use of recreational sport to advance peace building in highly volatile contexts has experienced a notable upsurge in recent years. This has been the case in conflict regions such…

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Opinion

Steve Mesler
CEO of Classroom Champions, Olympic Gold Medalist and Champion for Peace

All opinions
22/01/2017 par Steve Mesler

A Digital Awakening for Sport and Social Good

At some point in our lives we come to what can best be described as an awakening. It’s a moment that stops us in our tracks, a moment that brings…

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Opinion

Juan Bautista Segonds
President and Founder Rugby Sin Fronteras

All opinions
15/01/2017 par Juan Bautista Segonds

Building bridges between Cuba and the U.S through rugby

Sport is an effective tool for ameliorating diplomatic relations and exceeding social, economic and cultural differences. With that thought in mind, Rugby Sin Fronteras (Rugby without Borders) foundation has organized…

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Opinion

Stephen Murphy
Patron of Tennis for All Uganda

All opinions
08/01/2017 par Stephen Murphy

Tennis for all Uganda-The power of tennis to go anywhere

For years I have believed in the huge potential of sport to bring about peace and development. At the same time, I’ve been aware that my sport – tennis –…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
26/12/2016 par Joël Bouzou

Creating pathways for social change

As 2016 drew to a close I want to delve into the importance of using digital media and information platforms in the service of peace. Sport information content focused on…

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Opinion

Edgar Romero
German Sport University- International Sport Development and Politics

All opinions
18/12/2016 par Edgar Romero

No goal is reached without a struggle

The magic of sports is its ability to show us that we all want to help each other to reach our most ambitious goals. It helps us discover our true…

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Opinion

Grant Jarvie
Professor and Director, University of Edinburgh, Academy of Sport

All opinions
11/12/2016 par Grant Jarvie

Sport for a Healthier World

Two premises guide the work of the Academy: that sport has a part to play in addressing the challenges that face humanity in the 21st century and to be seen…

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Opinion

Simone Galimberti
Co-Founder of ENGAGE, Inclusive Change Through Volunteering

All opinions
04/12/2016 par Simone Galimberti

Pushing for adaptive sports in the developing countries while pushing for their whole rights

The International Day of Persons with Disabilities, marked on December 3rd, is a day to reflect on the importance to increase sport participation among persons living with disabilities. The Paralympics…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
27/11/2016 par Joël Bouzou

Speech on the occasion of Opening Ceremony at the 9th Peace and Sport International Forum

Peace and Sport wants to demonstrate that sport is a tool at the service of global peace. It can be used in places where civil war, ethnic conflicts, natural disasters or extreme poverty…

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Opinion

Geert Hendriks
AISTS Head of Projects

All opinions
13/11/2016 par Geert Hendriks

The Legacy of the Rio 2016 Refugee Olympic Team

A lot has happened since Rose Lokonyen walked into the Olympic Stadium as a flag bearer of the Rio 2016 Refugee Olympic Team. Rose was amongst the 10 athletes from…

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Opinion

Luke Brenneman
Arizona State University

All opinions
06/11/2016 par Luke Brenneman

Unity in Diversity at the Rio 2016 Olympics

How? Why? These questions are the next step in capitalizing on what we already know to be true—that sport has the power to unite people across differences. If we understand…

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Opinion

Eli A. Wolff and Mary A. Hums
Power of Sport Lab and University of Louisville

All opinions

The Purpose of Sport and Play

What is the true purpose of sport and play? What constitutes the essential core of these activities? How do sport and play serve humanity and societies around the world?  We…

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Opinion

Wilfried Lemke
Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Sport for Development and Peace

All opinions
23/10/2016 par Wilfried Lemke

Promoting the United Nations values through Sport

Sport is a cost-effective, flexible and powerful tool in promoting peace and development objectives. It brings people together regardless of their origins and backgrounds, creates strong social cohesion and bonds,…

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Opinion

Nsabimana Radjabu
Director of the Youth Center of Bugarama, Rwanda

All opinions
17/10/2016 par Nsabimana Radjabu

The Great Lakes Friendship Games as a seedbed for changemakers

Last weekend, 180 youngsters from 9 to 16 years old were protagonists at the 7th edition of the Great Lakes Friendship Games. During three days youth from Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
10/10/2016 par Joël Bouzou

Lessons learned from the latest peace efforts

Today, at the end of a week marked with peace-related events, I write these words with optimism. This week, three events have been taking place in different parts of the…

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Opinion

Ummul Choudhury
Co-Founder and CEO Capoeira4Refugees

All opinions
02/10/2016 par Ummul Choudhury

Tackling mental health issues of refugee children through sport

World Mental Health Day, marked on October 10, is a day to reflect on the challenges refugee children face everyday; but especially in terms of their mental health. This day…

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Opinion

Catherine Houston and Grant Jarvie
University of Edinburgh, Moray House School of Education

All opinions

Humanitarianism, sport and the UN: Time for Change

“For as long as we invest in outdated or self-serving models of humanitarian action, we will continue to trade in missed opportunities.” – Dr. Samantha Nutt It is time for…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
20/09/2016 par Joël Bouzou

Joining forces around the World Peace Day

Thirty-five years have passed since the United Nations General Assembly declared in a resolution the International Day of Peace, with a purpose to commemorate and strengthen the “ideals of peace…

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Opinion

Zahra Ahmadipour and Mahdi Karimi
Tarbiat Modares University and University of Leiden

All opinions

Sport: A Substitute or a Motivation for War?

While Sport for Peace is widely seen as an emerging field, its antecedents can be traced back to the Olympic Truce where it was first used to settle temporary peace…

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Opinion

Simone Galimberti
Co-Founder of ENGAGE, Inclusive Change Through Volunteering

All opinions
04/09/2016 par Simone Galimberti

Beyond the Paralympics: Sport as a Tool for Inclusion in Developing Countries

With 4,350 world-class athletes representing 176 nations competing for medals in 23 sport competitions, the upcoming Paralympic Games in Rio, especially after the great successes of the London edition, have…

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Opinion

Nevena Vukašinović
ENGSO Youth Secretary General, Co-Founder of International Youth Working Group on UN - IOC cooperation, UN Youth Gateway Focal Point for Policy

All opinions
28/08/2016 par Nevena Vukašinović

#Roadto2030: Search for Game – Changers

Global changes are challenging the way we mobilize for change. It’s not time to exit, but it is maybe last moment to change the way we play together. Young people…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
21/08/2016 par Joël Bouzou

Rio 2016: moments of humanity in a nutshell

During the two-week of inaction between the Olympic and the Paralympic Games we have a unique opportunity to reflect how both events can improve conditions necessary for sustainable peace. Rio…

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Opinion

Elana Meyer
Olympic Medalist, Champion for Peace and Endurocad Ambassador

All opinions
14/08/2016 par Elana Meyer

Olympics: breeding ground for transformative actions

One of the most important things that I have learned as a sport athlete came from the 1992 Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona. I went there with a vision of…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
07/08/2016 par Joël Bouzou

Rio 2016: a chance for the global community to act

The traditional Olympic Truce, the sacred historical pause when nations around the world observe a period of peace, has begun. From 5th to 21st August the Rio 2016 Olympic Games…

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Opinion

Lord Michael Bates
Charity Walker and Former British Minister of State at the Home Office

All opinions
31/07/2016 par Lord Michael Bates

Last step of a walk. First day of a truce?

The eyes of the world will be focussed on Rio for the Opening Ceremony of the Games of the XXXI Olympiad on Friday 5 August. Few may have noticed that…

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Opinion

Grant Jarvie
Professor and Director, University of Edinburgh, Academy of Sport

All opinions
24/07/2016 par Grant Jarvie

Small sport interventions can make big differences to life chances

“We can tackle Homelessness and football can show the way” were the opening words as the 2016 Homeless World Cup kicked of in Glasgow on the 10th of July. Small…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
17/07/2016 par Joël Bouzou

Remembering, Honoring, and Taking Action for a better future

We are living in society where individuals are becoming incrementally intolerant. The last few weeks have been plagued with intolerant attacks globally. Today, I am writing these words with a…

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Opinion

Michael J. Rosenkrantz
University of Arizona Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team

All opinions
10/07/2016 par Michael J. Rosenkrantz

Moving Forward the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Nepal

There are lessons to be learned from disability sports. It is those of us without a physical disability who put up barriers that prevent people with disabilities from playing, e.g….

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
03/07/2016 par Joël Bouzou

Tour de France: a reminder of the power of cycling

The 103rd edition of the Tour the France has begun. For the next 23 days the world’s most prestigious bike race will be a perfect occasion to celebrate the positive…

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Opinion

Luc Hernu
Director- General U.S.Pont Sainte Maxence Football

All opinions
26/06/2016 par Luc Hernu

From field to classroom: teaching good citizenship through football

Football is a dominant force for good in the lives of million youth and children worldwide. It has a universal language and it is used as platform for cooperation and…

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Opinion

Tegla Chepkite Loroupe
Chef de Mission of the Refugee Olympic Team, Founder of the Tegla Loroupe Peace Foundation, Champion for Peace

All opinions
19/06/2016 par Tegla Chepkite Loroupe

Celebrating the World Refugee Day with the Refugee Olympic Team

World Refugee day, marked on June 20, is a moment to reflect about challenges refugees are facing in their everyday lives, as well as about the resilience they demonstrate in…

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Opinion

Jean-François Tordo
Rugby Player, President of Pachamama and Champion for Peace

All opinions
11/06/2016 par Jean-François Tordo

When sport can give children hope

One of the most important things that I have learned as a sport athlete came from outside of the rugby field, when I began to see the power of sport…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
05/06/2016 par Joël Bouzou

The Refugee Olympic squad is more than a dream team

Rio 2016 Olympic Games will be remembered and its message of peace will prevail. Last Friday, the International Olympic Committee announced names of the ten athletes who will act not…

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Opinion

Alexander Cárdenas and Sibylle Lang
Peace advocate and SDP researcher from Colombia, and Political Scientist and Fellow at Geneva Centre for Security Policy

All opinions

The role of sport in peace building and post-conflict

“The Role of Sport in Peace Building and Post-Conflict” was recently discussed in a public debate at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, a think tank and executive education institution…

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Opinion

Eli A. Wolff, Mary A. Hums, David Legg
Brown University, University of Louisville, Mount Royal University

All opinions

The Olympic Movement Belongs to Everyone

 “The Olympic flag is a universal symbol. It belongs to everyone. It belongs to mankind….it is the expression of universality and of brotherhood of the world.”  Jacques Rogge, 2008 In…

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Opinion

Pernilla Wiberg
Olympic Champion and World Championship medallist in alpine skiing, Champion for Peace

All opinions
15/05/2016 par Pernilla Wiberg

Game on for girls in sport

The movement to use sport as a catalyst for improving the lives of girls has been growing globally. Many efforts have been done at the international level to promote girl’s…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
08/05/2016 par Joël Bouzou

Think globally, act locally: confidence in the potential of small sport projects

Peace and global change derive from initiatives or small projects that create a bonfire on a large scale. Leaving aside its size, each sport project has the potential to have…

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Opinion

James M. Dorsey
Senior fellow S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore and co-director of the Institute of Fan Culture, University of Wuerzburg, Germany

All opinions
01/05/2016 par James M. Dorsey

Egyptian soccer fans set stage for growing anti-government protests

Militant, street battle-hardened Egyptian soccer fans set the stage for growing protests against the government of general-turned-president Abdel Fattah Al Sisi when they earlier this month forced their way into…

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Opinion

Guo Chuan
First Chinese offshore sailor, Olympic torch bearer 2008 and 2016, Champion for Peace

All opinions
22/04/2016 par Guo Chuan

One with the Flame…Carrying the light for peace

In the modern era, the Olympic Flame has been a powerful symbol of peace, unity and solidarity. Last week, again, the Olympic Flame was lit in Greece spreading the message of…

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Opinion

Jason Laird
Lead physiotherapist at British Judo- English Institute of Sport

All opinions
15/04/2016 par Jason Laird

Rio Reconnaissance as an assurance of success for the British Judo at Olympics and Paralympics

For the athletes we work with day to day, the Olympic and Paralympic Games are the pinnacle of their careers. As such, it is imperative that they are best prepared…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
10/04/2016 par Joël Bouzou

Translating April 6 into real-world impact

In a compendium of achievements around the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) on April 6, the international community, activated by Peace and Sport, engaged in a successful global mobilization…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
03/04/2016 par Joël Bouzou

Time for transformative actions as April 6 is approaching

On April 6 people unite by one language and one belief: language of sport and conviction of a possible peace. In 2014 the International Day of Sport for Development and…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
26/03/2016 par Joël Bouzou

Amid the hatred, sport becomes more vital than ever

A week ago, the world woke up with devastating news: a deadly explosion in Belgium left 35 people dead and 270 wounded. Three days later 32 people, among them many…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
21/03/2016 par Joël Bouzou

The White Card – A Symbol for Peace and the Future

Sport likes symbols. They are firmly anchored in its history: the Olympic rings; the Olympic flame; the crystal globe; the golden ball. They are all part of the legend. They carry inherent values and have survived the…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
11/03/2016 par Joël Bouzou

Sport is a Refuge for Arash Arian

Thomas Bach made the announcement at the beginning of March: a team of refugees will participate in the Rio Games in August 2016, made up of between 5 and 10…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
04/03/2016 par Joël Bouzou

Novak Djokovic, the Art of Good Timing

Novak Djokovic is a Champion for Peace. The Serbian tennis player joined Peace and Sport in April 2011 and, with conviction, commitment and humility, became part of a group of ambassadors…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
26/02/2016 par Joël Bouzou

A Legacy for the City and for Peace

The Olympic race has started in earnest for the four bidding cities for the 2024 summer Olympics. Budapest, Los Angeles, Paris and Rome presented their initial candidate files to the…

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Opinion

Beatriz Mejía
Director of Grupo Internacional de Paz

All opinions
18/02/2016 par Beatriz Mejía

Sport and post-conflict reconstruction in Colombia

In Colombia, throughout the territory, the dynamics of armed conflict have affected communities in all their dimensions, destroying social links, trust, integration and respect for others. The cycle of violence…

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Opinion

Michael Pedersen
Founder, M INC. > change the game

All opinions
10/02/2016 par Michael Pedersen

Defining WINNING as a Mix of Outstanding Performance and Outstanding Behavior

During recent months, I have been helping Sandboarding Peru integrate behavioral principles into its coaching framework for underprivileged children and youth doing sandboarding in Huacachina, Peru. The approach and process…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
05/02/2016 par Joël Bouzou

A Rainbow Showcase

Twenty-four goals were scored in French Premier League matches between 29 and 31 January 2016 on the 23rd day of the championship. Nine victories, of which four were away matches,…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
29/01/2016 par Joël Bouzou

It’s Time for Olympians to Get Involved

The sign is strong and the message eloquent. And the sight will be amazing. In April 2016, the Olympic flame will be lit in Olympia in Greece, less than four…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
25/01/2016 par Joël Bouzou

A Footballer Whose Commitment Runs Deep…

On Monday 11 January 2016, the whole world of football was focussed on Zurich, where the official FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala was held. Lionel Messi won the main award, attracting a flurry…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
15/01/2016 par Joël Bouzou

The year of refugees

News topics often influence scheduled events in the calendar year. The Olympic year of 2016 will also be the year of refugees. Not just in Europe, where hundreds of thousands…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
08/01/2016 par Joël Bouzou

2016: an Olympic Truce year

As we’ve just entered 2016, the international sports movement has already set its eyes on Rio for this summer’s Olympic Games. Six months before, it’s in the Norwegian town of…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
18/12/2015 par Joël Bouzou

Let’s continue driving change

Creating dialogue and raising more public awareness: this is the goal that we set ourselves with the launch of the Peace and Sport Watch in April 2015. The peace through…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
04/12/2015 par Joël Bouzou

Time to act

Looking back on the 8th edition of the Peace and Sport International Forum, I now understand why I was convinced that our gathering was the best possible response we could provide…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
20/11/2015 par Joël Bouzou

Learning from yesterday, united in building tomorrow

The world is changing fast, yet conscious of the cost of violence the trap is to invest more in warfare than in structured peace-building actions. Have we not learnt from…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
13/11/2015 par Joël Bouzou

Today the Great Lakes Friendship Games build the ties of tomorrow

Today kicks off the 6th edition of the Friendship Games, an annual sports, cultural and awareness-raising event aimed at promoting fraternity among youth from bordering countries of the Great Lakes…

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Opinion

Nevena Vukašinović
ENGSO Youth Secretary General, Co-Founder of International Youth Working Group on UN - IOC cooperation, UN Youth Gateway Focal Point for Policy

All opinions
06/11/2015 par Nevena Vukašinović

No more tomorrows in youth and sport for development and peace

If you were connected to social networks today, you couldn’t have missed the two vibrating topics #iLoveYOG and #youth4SDGs. With less than 100 days to go to the YOG the IOC…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
30/10/2015 par Joël Bouzou

Peace through Sport Engineers on the rise

Only one month after 193 world leaders gathered in New York to commit to the SDG’s 17 Global Goals guiding the agenda of the United Nations for the next 15…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
16/10/2015 par Joël Bouzou

Sport Diplomacy a tool worthy of governments

The term “Sports diplomacy”, describes the use of sport as a means to influence diplomatic, social, and political relations[1]. Sports in this context may transcend cultural differences and bring people…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
09/10/2015 par Joël Bouzou

The Rugby World Cup or a call beyond truce and unity

Today, the Nobel Peace Prize winner was announced, the laureate went out to the National Dialogue Quarteta for their contribution to the building of a pluralistic democracy in Tunisia in…

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Opinion

Grant Jarvie
Professor and Director, University of Edinburgh, Academy of Sport

All opinions
02/10/2015 par Grant Jarvie

Sport as a resource of hope in making the art of the possible, possible

Last weekend saw IOC President Thomas Bach claim that sport is a “natural partner” when it comes to realizing the ambitious agenda that will guide global development over the next…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
25/09/2015 par Joël Bouzou

Ready, steady, goals: Today sets the Sustainable Development Agenda for the next 15 years

Today, 193 world leaders will gather in New York for the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit to commit to the 17 Global Goals guiding the agenda of the United Nations…

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Opinion

Jeremy Gilley
Peace One Day Founder

All opinions
18/09/2015 par Jeremy Gilley

Building peace one day at a time through sport

This Peace Day, 21 September marks the 14th annual day of global ceasefire and non-violence, which was unanimously adopted by the member states of the United Nations in 2001. The…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
11/09/2015 par Joël Bouzou

As the global refugee crisis (finally) reaches the shores of Europe’s agenda, sport explores its contributions

Beyond the recent tragic news, what I struggle with most is the fact that we have known the reality of a growing refugee crisis for years and that Europe could…

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Opinion

Maria Bobenrieth
Executive Director, Women Win

All opinions
04/09/2015 par Maria Bobenrieth

The Equity Call: Why we need authentic, measurable and accountable gender mainstreaming in sport for development

Regardless of where I am in the world, the question I inevitably get asked when advocating for girls to have access to sport and personal development is, ‘But what about…

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Opinion

Tegla Chepkite Loroupe
Chef de Mission of the Refugee Olympic Team, Founder of the Tegla Loroupe Peace Foundation, Champion for Peace

All opinions
28/08/2015 par Tegla Chepkite Loroupe

Peace starts in our own backyard

On July 15th this year, with my fellow marathon runner John Kelai and Wilson Kipsang we started a Walk for Peace in Kenya. Our itinerary took us on a 22…

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Opinion

Eli A. Wolff and Mary A. Hums
Power of Sport Lab and University of Louisville

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A Nobel Prize in Sport? – A Worthy Conversation

The Nobel Prize currently recognizes significant international contributions in categories of Peace, Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Literature and Economics. The time has come to consider adding a new category – a…

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Opinion

James M. Dorsey
Senior fellow S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore and co-director of the Institute of Fan Culture, University of Wuerzburg, Germany

All opinions
14/08/2015 par James M. Dorsey

Israel and Palestine play high stakes soccer

Israel and Palestine are playing political soccer with Palestinian football as the ball. The stakes for Israel‎ are far higher than for Palestine. Israel is effectively on probation as it…

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Opinion

Linda K. Fuller
Ph.D. University of Massachusetts, Professor of Communications at Worcester State University

All opinions
07/08/2015 par Linda K. Fuller

How can we come to terms with gender ambiguity for sportspeople?

According to the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF), which governs track, female Indian sprinter Dutee Chand was only eligible to compete if her “male hormone” or testosterone level was…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
31/07/2015 par Joël Bouzou

Faith in Sport – opening the road to dialogue and reconciliation

Although I am currently in Kuala Lumpur for the IOC session, I feel the need to bring the attention back to Europe in order to highlight the event that is…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
24/07/2015 par Joël Bouzou

Make every day a Mandela day – The legacy lives on

July 18 has marked Nelson Mandela International Day since the 2009 unanimous decision of the UN General Assembly. Taking place every year on his day of birth, the day does…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
17/07/2015 par Joël Bouzou

In search for unity – South Sudan looks to sport

South Sudan’s bid for recognition by the Olympic movement will be considered on 28 July during the IOC executive board meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. If approved, the issue will then…

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Opinion

Oliver Dudfield
Head of Sport for Development and Peace, Commonwealth Secretariat

All opinions
09/07/2015 par Oliver Dudfield

Can sport make a valuable contribution to the post-2015 agenda?

The post-2015 development agenda will set out a new plan for global development with the ambition to ‘transform our world by 2030’. Through the post-2015 process the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Sport…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
03/07/2015 par Joël Bouzou

Turning Point for peace: Learning from the past building the future

Peace is not just the absence of war. We are constantly reminded of this, notably by recent tragic events in Egypt, Tunisia and France. Whereas conflict historically occurred more between…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
25/06/2015 par Joël Bouzou

When over half of all refugees are children, sport must reACT

20 June is the UN International Refugee Day. This is not a celebration, of course, but rather a day to raise awareness and drive change to improve the situation. This…

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Opinion

Dr. Alexander Cárdenas
Peace advocate and SDP researcher from Columbia

All opinions

Sport, the international community and the peace talks in Colombia

Sport in all its varied forms have played a prominent role in Colombian society for decades. Ranging from improvised pickup games to professional leagues, sport is practiced massively across Colombia….

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
12/06/2015 par Joël Bouzou

Sport taking Europe to new frontiers in Baku

In 2012, President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy received the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the European Union and stated: “At a time of uncertainty, this day…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
05/06/2015 par Joël Bouzou

A weekend to start tackling stereotypes

Beyond politics, beyond corruption scandals and all the media hype let me invite you to the touching stories of everyday footballers who struggle to just play. These athletes have been…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
29/05/2015 par Joël Bouzou

A new playing field between Washington and the Havana

Back in December, US President Barack Obama and Cuba’s Raul Castro announced a historic change of course after more than five decades of Cold War strains. Although the 1962 US…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
22/05/2015 par Joël Bouzou

Blatter’s attempt to tackle “the mother of all conflicts”

A publicity stunt a week before the election? Possibly. However, I wish to express an angle that we are discussing a lot less, which ought to be more important to…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
15/05/2015 par Joël Bouzou

Indigenous athletes gaining recognition step by step in the sport world

Indigenous communities around the globe have in recent years been seen to increasingly speak out and defend their rights, traditions and belief systems. Although there is still a lot of…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
08/05/2015 par Joël Bouzou

Global Leaders Bringing A New Dynamic For Peace Through Sport

It didn’t take long for Thomas Bach to find his bearings when stepping into his new shoes as IOC President, and to give the function a personal touch. Since his…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
22/04/2015 par Joël Bouzou

Between Israel and Palestine, the conflict also plays out at football grounds

In the Middle East, the conflict between Israel and Palestine doesn’t stop at the stadium doors. In recent weeks, football has even become, once again, a ground for expression. Quick…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
22/04/2015 par Joël Bouzou

With the Peace Corps, Taekwondo leads by example

World sport owes much to ChoueChung-won and so does the world of peace. The South Korean leader, who’s been president of the International Taekwondo Federation (WTF) for over ten years,…

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Opinion

Joël Bouzou
Peace and Sport President and Founder

All opinions
20/04/2015 par Joël Bouzou

In Iran, sport is pushing the boundaries

Her name could be heard everywhere last year. Her story moved, shocked and saddened all who heard it. Ghoncheh Ghavami, a 26 year-old British-Iranian, was arrested in June 2014 in…

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Timeline

1st records of Sport Diplomacy: The Olympic Truce

The tradition of the “Truce” or “Ekecheiria” was established in ancient Greece in the 9th century BC by the signature of a treaty between three kings. During the Truce period, the athletes, artists and their families, as well as ordinary pilgrims, could travel in total safety to participate in or attend the Olympic Games and return afterwards to their respective countries. As the opening of the Games approached, the sacred truce was proclaimed and announced by citizens of Elis who travelled throughout Greece to pass on the message.

Creation of the International Olympic Committee

The International Olympic Committee is established, with the goal of placing sport at the service of the harmonious development of humankind, with a view to encouraging the establishment of a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity.

The 1st Modern Olympic Games

Artist’s rendition of the 100m dash during the first Olympic games. American Thomas Burke (2nd L) won the gold medal with a time of 12 seconds, using a starting technique that was used for many years after until the invention of the starting blocks.

The match that made history

The ?Christmas Truce? was a onetime soccer event during the 1914 christmas cease-fire which brought together mainly British and German soldiers from opposite camps. The photograph commemorates the event as participants wearing fatigue of WWI British and German soldiers pose on December 11, 2014, in Comines-Warneton during the inauguration of a monument to commemorate WWI soldiers of opposite camps who played a game of soccer together during a Christmas cease-fire in 1914

A victory lap for the world by Jesse Owens and Carl Lutz

A historic moment during the 1936 Olympic games in Germany. Jesse Owens, an American long-jumper and his biggest rival Carl Ludwig “Lutz” Long, a German long-jumper united through sport in a context that should have pushed them apart. Having already qualified for the finals, Luz Long advised Jesse Owens who was struggling to qualify with one last jump remaining to jump from a spot several inches behind the take-off board so as not to be disqualified for his last jump. Jesse Owens took his advice and qualified. Owens went on and defeated Luz Long in the finals to take the gold. Luz Long and Jesse Owens went on to run a victory lap to the dismay of Hitler.

Black power salute on the podium

US athletes Tommie Smith (C) and John Carlos (R) raise their gloved fists in the Black Power salute to express their opposition to racism in the USA during the US national anthem, after receiving their medals 17 October 1968 for first and third place in the men’s 200m event at the Mexico Olympic Games. Sporting role models are here again?a great way to challeng the status quo.

Ping Pong Diplomacy

Ping-pong diplomacy was the first time “sport diplomacy” was used and marks the exchange of table tennis (ping-pong) players between the United States and People’s Republic of China (PRC) in the early 1970s during the World Table Tennis Championship. The event marked a thaw in Sino-American relations that paved the way to a visit to Beijing by President Richard Nixon.

The Summer Olympics that made Truce a priority

The memorial ceremony for the victims of the hostage-taking of Israeli team members by a Palestinian terrorist group of the “Black September” who had stormed the Israeli athletes? quarters, killed two and took nine other members of the Israeli Olympic team hostage. After which a freeing action of the German police forces on the Fuerstenfeldbruck airport near Munich had failed overnight 06 September 1972, leaving all hostages, five of the Palestinian kidnappers and a German policeman dead. The “Munich Massacre” a tragic hostage situation that escalated to further suffering on all sides did not taint the future of the games but strengthened it as truce and organisations started to realise and invest in building a space for peace during such events.

Testing the limits of sport as a diplomatic tool

Led by the United States, 65 countries boycotted the games because of the Soviet war in Afghanistan, though some athletes from some of the boycotting countries participated in the games under the Olympic Flag. This prompted the Soviet-led boycott of the 1984 Summer Olympics and not in advancing dialogue. It can be understood from this experience that boycotting may raise an issue and make a statement but those who pay the price, the athletes, are not the ones targeted. We need to create dialogue and sport events are a great place, don’t take it out on the athl?tes.

The limited capacity of boycotts to inflict change

Los Angles, United States Summer Olympics suffer a Soviet boycott 4 years after boycotting?the 1980?Moscow Olympics. Four years on and the negative impact of the boycott live on. AFP PHOTO / ANDREY SMIRNOV

The Olympic Truce reaches new heights

The International Olympic Committee launches an appeal for the observance of the Olympic Truce and relayed it to the United Nations (UN) in order to have a greater impact. Since 1993, the UN General Assembly has repeatedly expressed its support for the IOC by unanimously adopting, every two years (one year before each edition of the Olympic Games), a resolution entitled “Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal”. It was additionally negotiated with the United Nations to allow athletes of the Former Republic of Yugoslavia to participate in the Games of the XXIII Olympiad in Barcelona. AFP PHOTO JEFF HAYNES

A year to celebrate and Sport and the Olympic Ideal

The 48th Session of the United Nations General Assembly urges Member States to observe the Olympic Truce for the first time and goes on to declare 1994 as the International Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal

Olympic Aid sees the day

Olympic Aid came to life as an idea in 1992 but was not concretely founded until 1994. In 2000, Olympic Aid turned into Right To Play under the leadership of four-time Olympic gold medallist and social entrepreneur Johann Olav Koss. Right to play works in using play to teaches children essential life skills that help them overcome the effects of poverty, conflict and disease so they can create better futures and drive lasting social change in their communities and beyond. AFP PHOTO/Roberto SCHMIDT

The Truce in practise

The Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer allow the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to participate in the XVII Olympic Winter Games despite ongoing wars after coordinated diplomatic efforts.

Rugby against apartheid

South Africa?s hosting and winning of the Rugby World Cup was a powerful tool to send a post-apartheid message that racial barriers could be overcome.?

Beyond an award a speech that made a mark

Nelson Mandela addresses his famous speech “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language that they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair…” 5 years after the Rugby World Cup.

United we stand

Flag bearers Jang Choo Pak (L) of North Korea and Eun-Soon Chung of South Korea carry a special flag with the image of the Korean peninsula, at the head of their joint delegation during the opening ceremony of the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney 15 September 2000. North and South Korean delegations marched together for the first time at the Sydney games. AFP PHOTO/Jeff HAYNES

A special adviser dedicated to sport for development and peace is appointed

Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary-General appointed Adolf Ogi, former President of the Swiss Confederation as the first ?Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Sport for Development and Peace? in order to more systematically and coherently encourages the use of sport as a means to attain health, education, development and peace objectives. AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI

A year to move forward in Sport and Physical Education

UN General Assembly Resolution 58/5 proclaimed 2005 as the ?International Year of Sport and Physical Education? (IYSPE 2005). IYSPE 2005 strived to achieve a better understanding of the value of sport and physical education for human development and a more systematic use of sport in development programmes. In this framework, the ?Group of Friends on Sport for Development and Peace? was created. This is an informal intergovernmental platform among Permanent Representatives to the UN in New York aiming to encourage UN Member States and the UN system to integrate sport actively into their policies and strategies. In addition, throughout the year various events took place around the world. Swiss top ranked world tennis player Roger Federer was?ambassador for the International Year of Sport and Physical Education 2005. AFP PHOTO JEAN-PIERRE CLATOT

Peace and Sport: From myth to reality

Founded under the High Patronage of Prince Albert II, Peace and Sport L?Organisation pour la paix par le sport was founded with the aim to use sport as a tool for peace worldwide.

1st Peace and Sport International Forum

The International?Forum gathers the highest authorities from the worlds of politics, sport, the private sector and civil society, committed to actions for peace through sport. An event for changemakers of sport for peace.

The UN creates an organisation dedicated to Sport

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed Wilfried Lemke, of Germany, as Adolf Ogi?s successor. The Special Adviser is assisted by the UN Office on Sport for Development and Peace (UNOSDP) in coordinating the efforts of the UN system to promote understanding and support internationally for sport as a powerful vehicle for positive social change. Amir Dossal (L), executive Director of UNOP, Wilfried Lemke (2ndL), special adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Sport for Development and Peace, Prince Albert II of Monaco and Joel Bouzou (R), president and founder of “Peace and Sport”.? AFP PHOTO/STEPHANE DANNA

The 1st UN-IOC Forum on Sport for Development and Peace

The first joint forum between the IOC and the United Nations took place in the Olympic Museum in Lausanne. The event, titled ?The Importance of Partnership?, brought together sporting officials and UN representatives in order to leverage the IOC?s recently obtained UN observer status and strengthen cooperation in the field of development through sport.

The 1st Peace and Sport Friendship Games in the Great Lakes region

A?two days cross-border sporting events, that brings together youth from the great lakes region in Africa. Aimed at promoting peace to the future generation by gathering?over 180 young people aged 9-15 from Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda in one place to exchange through sport.

United teams

Players of Angolan and Malian national football teams take a minute of silence to pay respects to the Togo team casualties at the opening match of African Cup of Nations football championships CAN2010. After a gunman had opened fire on the bus carrying the Togolese national football team to the tournament. AFP PHOTO/JOE KLAMAR

The Table Tennis Cup that Built Bridges

40 years after ?Ping-Pong Diplomacy? helped to restore diplomatic relations between USA and China during the Cold War, Table Tennis is once again making history by uniting North Korea and South Korea, India and Pakistan through sport thanks to the combined efforts?between Peace and Sport, ITTF and the athletes.

A day to celebrate

The UN General Assembly declared the 1st International Day on Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) on April 6. This decision represents a historic step in recognizing the transformative power of sport and its great potential in advancing positive social change. This day is commemorated globally each year by international, regional, national sport and development organizations to honour the role that sport plays in society, whether by encouraging healthier lifestyles, making sport more widely accessible or using it as a vehicle for development in areas made vulnerable by conflict, poverty and inequality.?Everyone can take part by organising or participating in an event or?by taking part in a??social media campaign, holding a #WhiteCard?for peace through sport.

Events calendar

watch@peace-sport.org