On 23 August 2013 at the United Nations Headquarters, New York, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 6 April as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.
This day will be celebrated each year by UN Member States and other partner organizations to honor the role that sport plays in society, whether by encouraging healthier lifestyles, making sport more widely accessible or using sport as a vehicle for development in areas made vulnerable by conflict, poverty and inequality.
This decision marks an historic step in recognizing sport as a tool for development and peace.
This initiative is being widely promoted by the international organization ‘Peace and Sport — L’Organisation pour la Paix par le Sport’, which is placed under the High Patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco. Upon the proposal of the “Peace and Sport Organization” the International Kurash Association decides to join this initiative to celebrate the 6 April as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace and calls upon its continental and national Kurash federations to join this initiative.
Photo above features Former IOC President Jacques Rogge, President of the United Nations General Assembly Vuk Jeremić and Serbian professional tennis player and Peace and Sport Champion for Peace Novak Djokovic, following the UN’s decision to declare 6 April as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (photo © Peace and Sport).
Below we are publishing the official press release from the “Peace and Sport” related to the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.
NEWS RELEASE
Launched by the UN at the initiative of the International Olympic Committee, the first ever ‘International Day of Sport for Development and Peace’ will take place on 6 April 2014. To mark this historic day, Peace and Sport is calling on people across the globe to take part by launching a dedicated platform — www.april6.org — that will bring together and promote all the initiatives being carried out worldwide to celebrate this event.
The general public, teachers, associations, sports clubs and federations and NGOs are all invited to join this major celebration of sport for peace by organizing or participating in a symbolic action or event on 6 April 2014 and registering it on the website www.april6.org.
Aimed at encouraging interaction and sharing through social networks, www.april6.org offers tips and recommendations for ways to take part, whether through holding a simple football match or an exhibition or by organizing a debate or open day.
Joel Bouzou, President and Founder of Peace and Sport:
“By establishing 6 April as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, the UN and IOC are paying tribute to the unique role of sport in our society and honoring its constructive and positive values. Throughout the year, a tremendous amount of work is carried out by stakeholders on the ground – often in difficult conditions. This day serves as a way to recognize and honor their achievements. We created www.april6.org to provide these different actors with a platform that could bring them together and present their actions to the general public. Sports champions will also be key to this celebration. As role models, they have the power to encourage large numbers of people to take part. 6 April must make its mark as a major event for peace-building through sport, which is one of the cornerstones of our movement.”
Visiting the Peace and Sport headquarters in Monaco to discuss preparations for April6, legendary marathon runner and Peace and Sport Champion for Peace, Paula Radcliffe, reaffirmed her commitment to celebrating the event: “Solidarity in sport can be instrumental in helping to bring peace to where it is needed most. 6 April 2014 is the first International Day of Sport for Development and Peace. Thank you for joining us and helping to make a positive difference through sport!” Paula is one of many Champions for Peace who are gearing up to make 6 April a day for worldwide participation.
A number of events have already been announced on www.april6.org, including:
- A conference at the UN headquarters in Geneva, to raise awareness among member states and UN agencies of the role of sport as a tool for development and peace.
- An ambitious fundraising campaign spearheaded by Venuste Niyongabo, Olympic champion in the 5,000m in 1996 and Peace and Sport Champion for Peace, as part of the Milan Marathon. Venuste will lead a team of charity runners to raise money for Peace and Sport’s field projects.
- A darts tournament open to both men and women in Karachi, Pakistan.
- A day of multi-sport competitions, debates and exchanges on the topic of peace-keeping and youth integration in the province of Bubanza, which has been particularly affected by the years of conflict gripping Burundi since the mid-2000s.
- A rugby tournament, open to young men and women from the most deprived neighborhoods in Calcutta, India.
SPORTING GESTURE FOR PEACE
Peace and Sport is taking part by launching its own unique and interactive campaign: “Carton Blanc – Sporting gesture for Peace”. This initiative will enable the public to join a viral campaign on social networks aimed at demonstrating the involvement of actors for development and peace through sport.
Taking part couldn’t be easier!
Here’s what you do:
- Take a photo of yourself holding a white card like a referee on a playing field.
- Post your photo on the April6 Facebook page or on your own profile with the words: “Play your Peace on April6!”, making sure to tag “April6”.
- Invite all your friends to “like” your photo
- Share links and information so all your friends hear about the initiative
Prizes will be awarded for the photos that have received the most “likes” by 6 April!
* “Carton Blanc” (White Card) is the name of a highly-acclaimed travelling photo exhibition by Maud Bernos dedicated to children living in areas of conflict or post-conflict and their daily involvement in sport. The exhibition was displayed at the 5th Peace and Sport International Forum in 2011.
The photos, taken in the Great Lakes region of Africa and in Israel-Palestine, highlight the faces of children who are at the very heart of our action and who are our tireless driving force.
The photographer named her exhibition “Carton Blanc” in reference to the red card, which signifies the most serious offense that a player can commit. Here, the colour white, which symbolizes purity and peace, is therefore used to represent positivity and constructiveness in sport.
About Peace and Sport
‘Peace and Sport, L’Organisation pour la Paix par le Sport’ is a politically neutral international organization based in Monaco. It was founded in 2007 under the High Patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco.
Peace and Sport puts sport and its core values at the heart of local development projects led within communities in crisis around the world. Conducting its missions in post-conflict zones and areas marked by extreme poverty or a lack of social cohesion, Peace and Sport uses sport as a vehicle for tolerance, respect, sharing and citizenship at the service of sustainable peace.
Supported by governments, global sport governing bodies, international organizations, major international private companies and international sports champions, Peace and Sport creates synergies between different stakeholders to carry out four areas of action:
- an annual International Forum
- a resource centre for peace through sport
- Peace and Sport Awards, recognizing individuals and initiatives contributing to peace
- Field Programs: concrete actions in different regions of crisis worldwide.
Peace and Sport was founded by Joel Bouzou, current President of the organization. Joel is an Olympic medalist and World champion in the modern pentathlon and President of the World Olympians Association. He is also an Advisor to H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco.
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