July 18 has marked Nelson Mandela International Day since the 2009 unanimous decision of the UN General Assembly. Taking place every year on his day of birth, the day does more than just recognize his contributions and achievements; it aims to build momentum to...
South Sudan’s bid for recognition by the Olympic movement will be considered on 28 July during the IOC executive board meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. If approved, the issue will then be presented to IOC members during the IOC Session, taking place four days later....
The post-2015 development agenda will set out a new plan for global development with the ambition to ‘transform our world by 2030’. Through the post-2015 process the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Sport for Development and Peace (SDP) Section has been focused on a key...
Peace is not just the absence of war. We are constantly reminded of this, notably by recent tragic events in Egypt, Tunisia and France. Whereas conflict historically occurred more between states with, to a certain degree, rules of war and a possibility for dialogue...
20 June is the UN International Refugee Day. This is not a celebration, of course, but rather a day to raise awareness and drive change to improve the situation. This year, the day may not have created much buzz on social media or mainstream news platforms, but the...
Sport in all its varied forms have played a prominent role in Colombian society for decades. Ranging from improvised pickup games to professional leagues, sport is practiced massively across Colombia. A game like football has captivated the collective imagination of a...
In 2012, President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy received the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the European Union and stated: “At a time of uncertainty, this day reminds people across Europe and the world of the Union’s fundamental purpose: to further the...
Back in December, US President Barack Obama and Cuba’s Raul Castro announced a historic change of course after more than five decades of Cold War strains. Although the 1962 US imposed trade and financial embargo is still currently still in effect, flexibility has been...
A publicity stunt a week before the election? Possibly. However, I wish to express an angle that we are discussing a lot less, which ought to be more important to us. Why are we not all trying to make things better? Why is peace not on everyone’s agenda? Of course we...
Indigenous communities around the globe have in recent years been seen to increasingly speak out and defend their rights, traditions and belief systems. Although there is still a lot of work to be done, the recent progress I have witnessed with the Copa IndoAmericana,...
It didn’t take long for Thomas Bach to find his bearings when stepping into his new shoes as IOC President, and to give the function a personal touch. Since his election in September 2013 in Buenos Aires, the German leader has given the role a new diplomatic...
In the Middle East, the conflict between Israel and Palestine doesn’t stop at the stadium doors. In recent weeks, football has even become, once again, a ground for expression. Quick summary of the facts: in early April 2015, the Palestinian Football Federation made...