Peace and Sport Awards 2020
April6 Initiative of the Year
rewards individuals and organizations who have contributed to the celebration of April 6, the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, through a #WhiteCard initiative or an event that raises awareness on the use of sport as a tool for development and peace.
Kosovo Olympic Committee
Kosovo
The Kosovo Olympic Committee, as every year, participated with innovative projects launching a #WhiteCard contest to celebrate the 7th edition of April6. Athletes, fans and officials were encouraged to take creative #WhiteCard pictures and videos while staying at home. More than 5,000 people took up the challenge and shared their creative #WhiteCard pieces accompanied by messages of hope and solidarity. The general public also joined the initiative by voting for their favourite photo or video through social media. In an unprecedented demonstration of the unifying power of sport, the entire Kosovo society contributed to a successful online celebration of April6 as well as the Judo Olympic Champion Majlinda Kelmendi!
International Judo Federation
Worldwide
To celebrate the 7th edition of IDSDP, the International Judo Federation launched a dedicated online platform, where judokas from all over the world could get involved by sharing their #WhiteCard pictures. Several hundred people from more than 100 countries participated, and all the photos were compiled together in a video, helping to spread an important message about peace on all five continents. From children to adults, from local judokas to big names in the sport, participation was massive and showed the commitment of the judo community to build a better society.
Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of Georgia
Georgia
The Georgian Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports organized three major online competitions to celebrate April6. The “I stay at home and train” competition encouraged the population to stay physically active and to share creative videos of their trainings at home. Schoolchildren were invited to take part in drawing and essay contests to express their vision on two themes: “gender equality and sport” and “peace and sport”. This artistic initiative encouraged students to reflect on how sport can change society. Finally, a national #WhiteCard campaign mobilized national sport federations and a wide range of stakeholders throughout the country. Famous athletes such as Weightlifting Olympic Champion and World Record holder Lasha Talakhadze also raised their #whitecard!
Palestine: Sports for Life
Palestine
Aiming to keep people at home, active and connected, Palestine Sports for Life mobilized its community through an online challenge. Participants had to film themselves doing an initial physical exercise move at home, then adding an extra move and teach it to a family member. The challenge allowed to connect people from different areas of Palestine, who usually do not have the opportunity to meet. Families had the opportunity to come together for a common activity and be active. A creative #WhiteCard chain was also launched, giving the participants the opportunity to connect and encourage each other during difficult times.
Secretary of State for Youth and Sport, within the Ministry of Education of Portugal
Portugal
The Portuguese government launched a massive national campaign to celebrate the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace. The campaign was created to substitute the activities originally planned to celebrate April6, as it was considered essential to promote sport as a vehicle for values and hope, in particular during the Covid-19 Pandemic. A short video, combining the #WhiteCard symbol and the positive values of sport was broadcasted on National TV and all national media networks. Several high-level sport personalities joined the campaign, acting as role models, and on April6 the Secretary of State for Youth and Sport presented the IDSDP message on national tv sets and media.
