The 8th edition of the Peace and Sport International Forum came to a close last friday in a ceremony presided over by H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco.
The Forum, running over three intellectually and emotionally charged days, saw Peace and Sport announce its future field actions and enabled delegates, including athletes, politicians, decision-makers, non-profit organizations and foundations to bring rich dialogue and debate to the table.
“Faced with those that want to destroy what unites us, our best response was to do just that – unite. That is what we have done over these three days, albeit with emotion and at times a heavy heart. But we have done so in a fighting spirit. Like a family that has been dealt a heavy blow, we had to come together and find mutual strength. We can be proud that once again, through our debates, experience and will, we have helped to advance the idea that sport can contribute to sustainable peace, even in this turbulent period”, said Joël Bouzou, President and Founder of Peace and Sport.
The 2015 Forum kicked off with a Peace Walk, a symbolic march through the Principality led by H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco and bringing together various political figures and international leaders, as well as sporting champions such as Chris Froome, Paula Radcliffe, Sergey Bubka, Pernilla Wiberg and hundreds of members of the public.
Plenary Sessions, taking place on Thursday and Friday, opened up discussions, debate and courses for action, which the field operations announced throughout the Forum will help to put into practice.
Partnerships signed with ISF (International School Sport Federation) and UEFA Foundation for Children will enable Peace and Sport to intensify its actions on the ground. Together with UEFA Foundation for Children, the organization will work in Jordan, focusing on the d’Al Zaatari region, where the Foundation is already active.
“The Forum proved to be a fantastic source of inspiration and energy. The whole Peace and Sport team has drawn on new strengths and we are more determined than ever to move forward. These three days have led to reflection, solutions and ideas, springing from a desire to be effective, innovative and united. I remember our first Forums and for me it is clear that each year, the peace through sport community is growing and diversifying.
In all sports and around the globe, the Champions are more and more aware of their role in society, of the role models they are for young people, and of their collective influence. The Champions for Peace are the natural leaders of the international peace through sport movement and our duty is to help them fulfil this role as best they can” added Joël Bouzou.
The Peace and Sport Awards were voted on this year by a jury made up of Ana Arizabaleta, Executive Director of NGO Colombanitos, Ekaterina Zagladina, President of the Permanent Secretariat of the World Summits of Nobel Peace Laureates, Elena Mayer, Champion for Peace and Olympic Silver Medallist, Patrick Hickey, President of the European Olympic Committees and Lilamani de Soysa, International Relations Director at the Tsukuba International Academy for Sport Studies. Awards were given to the following personalities:
- International Yoga Day for the Diplomatic Action of the Year category
- Robert Young (ultra-endurance runner) for the Champion of the Year category
- Run for Peace for the Event of Year category
- The Fiji Volleyball Federation for the Federation of the Year category
- UEFA Foundation for Children for the Foundation of the Year category
- Inter Futura SRL for the CSR Initiative of the Year category
- School for Hope for the NGO of the Year category
- British Council Pakistan for the Adapted Program of the Year category
A Special Jury Prize was also awarded to the documentary ‘Warriors’ which tells the remarkable story of a group of young Maasai warriors who form a cricket team to tackle gender inequality.
It was also announced that the ninth edition of the Peace and Sport International Forum will be staged from 23 to 25 November in Monaco
