The 9th Peace and Sport Forum in Monaco ended on Friday.
There’s no doubt that it will be indelibly etched in the history of the movement that began a decade ago through the quality of debates, the impact of past and future projects, the overwhelming commitment of delegates – particularly Champions for Peace – and the far-reaching symbols it generated.
“Peace and Sport is an international platform for opinion and action where speech is open and the main concern is that projects are concrete” insisted Joel Bouzou, President and Founder, in his closing speech.
The three days started with a symbolic Peace Walk led by HSH Prince Albert accompanied by three Nobel Peace Prize-winners from Tunisia: Abdessatar Ben Moussa, Mohammed Fadhel Mahfoudh and Ouided Bouchamaoui. They were surrounded by many eminent figures from politics and sport and 30 Champions for Peace including athletes Yelena Isinbayeva, Paula Radcliffe and Wilson Kipketer, tennis players Tatiana Golovin and Helena Sukova, and rugby players Imanol Harinordoquy, Jean-François Tordo and Dan Luger.
This inspiring opening was further enhanced on Thursday when the theme of Sports Diplomacy was discussed:
A Russian and Ukrainian athlete competed in a friendly Taekwondo competition watched by Marc Attali, Plenipotentiary Minister at the Embassy of Israel, and Dr Manuel Hassassian, Palestinian Ambassador to London, sitting side by side, who proclaimed their common belief in the values of sport to provide solutions where weapons have failed.
“Sport for peace works” said Joël Bouzou. “And we are aware of the responsibility that this means for us because the peace through sport movement is gaining momentum.”
There are several important and unifying projects planned for 2017, such as:
- Act for What Matters, an invitation to submit projects and ideas which support the vision and strategy of Peace and Sport’s action in the field.
- The Creation of a Sports Film Festival.
- An extraordinary match organized with Football For Peace which will take place in Paris at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, with teams composed of great football champions and anonymous players from populations in difficulty.
- Increasing partnerships signed with International Federations, such as those signed on Thursday with Chungwon Choue, President of the World Taekwondo Federation; Borislav Pelevic, President of the World Association of Kickboxing Organizations; Kuno Ritchard, President of the International Waterski and Wakeboard Federation; and Fani Palli Petralia, Vice President of the International Olympic Truce Center, which will intensify Peace and Sport’s action.
- The Creation of a new Peace and Sport Award, the ‘coup de coeur’ of Champions for Peace, to perpetuate the memory of their fellow Champion: Guo Chan, the Chinese sailor lost at sea at the end of October.
“We hope that these actions will inspire many others” concluded Joël Bouzou.
The 10th Peace and Sport Forum will take place on 6, 7 and 8 December 2017 in Monaco.
The Peace and Sport 2016 Awards were presented during a splendid Gala Evening.
- CSR initiative of the year: Moby Group (Afghanistan)
- NGO of the Year: Right to movement (Denmark)
- Champion of the Year: Flavio Canto (Brazil)
- Federation of the Year: World Taekwondo Federation
- Adapted Program of the Year: Korea Refugee Project (Jordan)
- Event of the Year: Homeless World Cup (Scotland)
- Diplomatic Action of the Year: International School Sport Federation (Belgium)
- Foundation of the Year: Right to Dream Academy (Ghana)
- Special Jury Prize: International Academy of Sports Science and Technology (Switzerland).
