“We Champions of Peace call for action over the next 10 years”

” We are champions. All of us. We’ve spent our lives training and preparing to reach the highest level and arrive at the podiums. It’s a long and difficult path, but a unique experience. It has forever transformed our lives as men and women. Today, we want to ‘give back’ what sport has given us. Through sport, we want to help transform society and its evolution. We are determined to use our celebrity, our image and our influence to share the values of sport. We dream of a better world. We are Peace and Sport’s Champions for Peace.

The longest-serving champions joined the movement when it was founded, ten years ago. A whole decade has been dedicated to the patient work of input and dialogue in the field, often locally, with communities. Through raising awareness, encouraging and fundraising we have helped to concretely and tangibly demonstrate the unifying, educational and social impact of sport. Ten years of interaction with people, especially youngsters, talking to them about sport and its virtues in some of the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods and regions, in post-conflict zones, in refugee camps such as Za’atari and Kakuma camps, and in areas affected by environmental catastrophes.

Today, we call for action. Through this manifesto, we are launching an appeal to go even further in this commitment. We, Champions for Peace, are asking athletes, the sports movement, political and institutional decision-makers and, more broadly, the general public, to join us in our action for the next ten years. Peace through sport doesn’t depend on a handful of people. Sharing the sport values – respect, fairness, equity, excellence and friendship – to build a more inclusive and united world needs as many people as possible to join in.

We want this appeal to be concrete. Words are not enough. With Peace and Sport, we have thought up 10 ideas for the new decade. There are many other commitments that can be made to maximize sport as a tool for peace, but we have decided to endorse these engagements, and they belong to you. On our own, they would open doors. But with all of you, they can really make a difference.

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