The eyes of the world will be focussed on Rio for the Opening Ceremony of the Games of the XXXI Olympiad on Friday 5 August. Few may have noticed that on Friday 29 July, seven days before, the Olympic truce for the Rio Games came into effect. Even fewer may notice a...
“We can tackle Homelessness and football can show the way” were the opening words as the 2016 Homeless World Cup kicked of in Glasgow on the 10th of July. Small interventions can actually make a difference. The Idea for the Homeless World Cup was forged in...
We are living in society where individuals are becoming incrementally intolerant. The last few weeks have been plagued with intolerant attacks globally. Today, I am writing these words with a sincere condolence to all innocent victims of the recent atrocities in...
There are lessons to be learned from disability sports. It is those of us without a physical disability who put up barriers that prevent people with disabilities from playing, e.g. I’ve seen steps on many types of playing courts, making it difficult to get onto the...
The 103rd edition of the Tour the France has begun. For the next 23 days the world’s most prestigious bike race will be a perfect occasion to celebrate the positive impact of bicycles in society. Bicycles are powerful resources for peace and improvement of...
Football is a dominant force for good in the lives of million youth and children worldwide. It has a universal language and it is used as platform for cooperation and action. It is important to use the power of football in a daily life of a child as it could be highly...
World Refugee day, marked on June 20, is a moment to reflect about challenges refugees are facing in their everyday lives, as well as about the resilience they demonstrate in overcoming them. This moment is also an opportunity to center our thoughts in the meaningful...
One of the most important things that I have learned as a sport athlete came from outside of the rugby field, when I began to see the power of sport off the pitch. Few years ago, I began a challenging journey after the establishment of Pachamama, a nongovernmental...
Rio 2016 Olympic Games will be remembered and its message of peace will prevail. Last Friday, the International Olympic Committee announced names of the ten athletes who will act not only as “a symbol of hope for refugees”, but also as bearer of peace in this divided...
“The Role of Sport in Peace Building and Post-Conflict” was recently discussed in a public debate at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, a think tank and executive education institution for diplomats, military officers, NGOs, IOs and the private sector involved in...
“The Olympic flag is a universal symbol. It belongs to everyone. It belongs to mankind….it is the expression of universality and of brotherhood of the world.” Jacques Rogge, 2008 In the Olympic Charter, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) states,...
The movement to use sport as a catalyst for improving the lives of girls has been growing globally. Many efforts have been done at the international level to promote girl’s participation in sport; however, today more than ever, it is important to call for more NGO’s,...