Under the motto “Behind each #WhiteCard, there is a story,” the 2021 #WhiteCard campaign initiated by Peace and Sport invited the entire world to join the peace-through-sport movement by sharing #WhiteCard pictures alongside with stories on www.april6.org and on social networks.
More than 200 stories behind the WhiteCard have been registered on our platform; stories of gender equity, intercultural and interreligious understanding, social inclusion, peace education, reconciliation and co-existence, and youth empowerment. These stories have reached 170 million people in 117 countries through the #WhiteCard[1].
Celebrations involved a rich diversity of actors such as governments, international federations, National Olympic Committees, international organizations, NGOs, Champions for Peace, athletes and field beneficiaries. This 8thedition successfully demonstrated that sport is a formidable tool to fight against discrimination, as well as a means of fostering the transmission of structuring values and illuminating the path to more inclusive and peaceful societies.
A worldwide mobilization
To commemorate the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, Patron of Peace and Sport and five-time Olympian, has recalled His life journey combining Head of State and Olympian’s role to promote peace. From the Principality, He called for mutual respect and peace through the universal values of sport and the symbol of the #WhiteCard:
“My experience in the Olympic Village during the Olympic Winter Games allowed me to meet athletes from other cultures and forge relationships on an equal footing. This learning has always been with me and has contributed to my understanding of the world as Head of State. On the occasion of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, I am raising my #WhiteCard to promote the universal values of sport.”
President and Founder of Peace and Sport Joël Bouzou, Vice President of Peace and Sport and football legend Didier Drogba, Champions for Peace, diplomats, political leaders and field programs beneficiaries also shared their personal story on www.april6.org platform.
About the global celebrations,Joël Bouzou, Peace and Sport’s President and Founder, declared:
“It is fantastic to see once again such a massive and diverse expression of support to the peace-through-sport movement. We have received exceptional WhiteCard stories of Champions for Peace, famous and committed athletes, coaches, children, women, men and passionate people from all over the world. I want to thank H.S.H. Prince Albert II for His contribution making this positive dynamic even more meaningful.”
Committed Champions for Peace
64 Champions for Peace from 33 countries got mobilized to promote sport as a tool for development and peace.
Pascal Gentil, double Taekwondo Olympic medalist, andMaria Toorpakai, professional Squash player, sent inspiring video messages (watch the videos here and here) to the youth during an event organized by Peace and Sport in partenership with UNHCR, Blumont, Zaatari Taekwondo Academy, World Taekwondo, and Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation in Zaatari and Azraq refugee camps.
Laure Fournier, Sambo World Champion 2018, and Marlène Harnois, Taekwondo Olympic Medalist, participated in workshops organized by Peace and Sport France in partnership with the Judicial Youth Protection Direction in Toulouse.
Pernilla Wiberg, Aya Medany, Benjamin Boukpeti, Zsolt Moradi, Pyrros Dimas, Melissa Plaza and Marlène Harnois also represented Peace and Sport in virtual events aiming at celebrating April 6.
In the coming months, Peace and Sport will continue collecting stories and feedback from the field through the Peace and Sport by MyCoach Mobile App. All this data will also allow Peace and Sport to undertake an ambitious monitoring and evaluation strategy.
Peace and Sport wants to thank all the Champions for Peace, governments, international federations, National Olympic Committees, international organizations, NGOs, athletes, field beneficiaries and partners who have shared their stories on www.april6.org and raised their #WhiteCard as a gesture of equality, inclusion and peace.
Thanks for your impressive mobilization on April6. Together, let’s write more meaningful stories behind the #WhiteCard!
About the #WhiteCard campaign
Peace and Sport, the peace-through-sport leader international organization based in the Principality of Monaco, created the www.april6.org platform and the #WhiteCard campaign in 2014. Since then, the Organization is leading the digital and international #WhiteCard mobilization.
This 2021 edition has been organized with the support of the following partners: Sport en Commun, International Federation for Sport Climbing (IFSC), International Judo Federation (IJF), World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO), World Karate Federation (WKF), International SAMBO Federation (FIAS), International Teqball Federation (FITEQ), Sponsor.Online, International Fencing Federation (FIE), World Dodgeball, European Olympic Committees (EOC), MyCoach, Global Esports Federation (GEF), Women Sports Africa, Clubs RFI, Monaco Info, Sports3.gr.
[1]Sources : Brand mentions – https://app.brandmentions.com/dashboard/shared/index/hash/GDWSJHNBGTVC#page/all-mentions
