On June 24, 2026, as part of the 62nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Peace and Sport took part in the high-level event titled “Sport in the Time of War,” organized by the Council of Europe in collaboration with the permanent missions of Monaco, Ukraine, and Costa Rica.
Against a backdrop marked by a proliferation of geopolitical crises, the organization reaffirmed a powerful message: sport serves as a unique tool for creating—or reestablishing—dialogue, restoring trust, and strengthening social cohesion in societies weakened by instability and violence.
Conflicts cause deep trauma, isolation, and numerous physical and invisible wounds. During this panel discussion, moderated by H.E. Mr. Miroslav Papa, Permanent Observer Ambassador of the Council of Europe to the United Nations Office in Geneva, it was emphasized that participating in sports helps create spaces for encounter, reconstruction, and inclusion. Thanks to its universal rules and the values it conveys when intentionally harnessed, sport transcends political, ethnic, or religious divides and contributes to psychological well-being as well as to learning to live together.
Athletes: Catalysts for Peace
On this occasion, Marlène Nidecker, a representative of Peace and Sport’s Champions for Peace Club, two-time European champion, and Olympic medalist in taekwondo, highlighted the crucial role that athletes can play far beyond the sports field.
As sources of inspiration and role models for millions of people, these Champions have a unique ability to encourage dialogue, strengthen social cohesion, and restore hope to communities that are vulnerable or divided by conflict.
For this influence to have its full impact, athletes must be guided and supported. This is precisely why Peace and Sport created the Peace Champions Club: an international collective bringing together more than 100 elite athletes from 40 countries, which provides them with tools, opportunities for action, and platforms for expression to amplify their impact on both communities and decision-makers.
United by a shared conviction, these Champions demonstrate that sport extends far beyond athletic performance to become a true vehicle for peace, dialogue, and social cohesion.
To illustrate this vision in concrete terms, Marlène Nidecker shared several examples of athletes who, through their commitment, have helped bring divided communities together during or after conflicts, demonstrating that the voices of champions can be a true source of hope and reconciliation.
A Global and Collaborative Effort
This event also brought together international organizations, institutions, and on-the-ground actors who are harnessing the power of sports to promote inclusion, protection, and reconciliation. Discussions included representatives from the UEFA Foundation for Children, the United Nations Refugee Agency, and the Center for Sport and Human Rights, and highlighted initiatives led by community-based organizations such as ClimbAID and the All-Ukrainian Pickleball Federation.
Speaking with one voice, the event underscored the urgent need to fully recognize sport as a tool capable of rebuilding connections where conflicts have severed them and of making a lasting contribution to building more resilient and inclusive societies.
