Peace and Sport

Peace and Sport, "L’Organisation pour la Paix par le Sport” is a neutral and independent organization based in the Principality of Monaco and under the patronage of Prince Albert II of Monaco.[1]

Peace and Sport
Peace and Sport logo
Location
  • Monaco
FieldsPeace, Sport, Development
Founder and President
Joël Bouzou
Vice President
Didier Drogba
Key people
H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, Champions for Peace
Websitehttp://www.peace-sport.org

Peace and Sport works in areas across the world where communities have become estranged from one another and where traditional policies have failed to establish dialogue, with the goal of restoring peaceful relations. Its objective is to bring the structuring values of sport to the heart of communities and individuals in crisis throughout the world.

The organization puts sport and its values at the heart of local development projects conducted within communities in crisis around the world. Exercising its missions in post-conflict zones, areas of extreme poverty or lacking social cohesion, Peace and Sport makes sport a vehicle for tolerance, respect, sharing and citizenship.

After retiring from professional football in late 2018, Ivorian footballing legend Didier Drogba, became Vice President of the organization.[2]

The current winner of the award is Argentine footballer Lionel Messi.[3]

Field actions

Since its creation, Peace and Sport has developed 12 field programs in 13 countries. The organisation works with local project leaders (governments, NGOs, National Olympic Committees and sports federations) in areas affected by extreme poverty, the consequences of conflicts and an absence of social cohesion. This partnership enables the development of programs that use sport and its educational and structural values to tackle various social issues within communities.[4]

Peace and Sport field programs
Active programs actifs Completed programs
Name of the program Country Date of creation End date Name of the program Country Date of creation End date
Live Together Jordan 2017 - Sport, an educational and integration tool for the Malagasy youth Madagascar 2017 2017
Sports workshops France 2016 - Living together through sport France 2014 2015
Friendship Games RD Congo, Burundi, Rwanda 2007 - Sport, a key tool for strengthening national unity in Mali Mali 2014 2015
African Great Lakes DR Congo, Burundi, Rwanda 2007 - Peace on the street! France 2014 2014
Using sport as a medium for conveying values in lawless areas Israel, Palestine 2011 2013
Sport, a key tool for integration and socialization

among Colombian youth

 Colombia 2009 2014
Sport, a key tool for integration and socializationamong Ivorian youth Ivory Coast 2008 2015
Sport for peace and development Haiti 2008 2014
Sport, a key tool for integration and socialization

among East Timorese youth

 East Timor 2008 2014

In 2018, Peace and Sport 4 field actions are located in 3 major regions : the African Great Lakes region, Za'atari Refugee Camp in Jordan and France. Those 4 field actions are:

  1. The Friendship Games is an annual multisport event with peacebuilding activities that gathers youngsters from Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi.[5]
  2. The “Live Together” program takes place in Za’atari refugee camp in Jordan. It aims at creating social cohesion through sport among refugees of different ages and gender.[6]
  3. The "Sports Workshops" uses sport as a social link creator to make it a vector for integration and professional integration on the French territory.[7]
  4. The "African Great Lakes" program supports with the involvement of National Olympic Committees, international sport federations, local authorities and Champions for Peace, 6 training centers through sport and peacebuilding activities.

The "Act For What Matters" programs

In 2016, Peace and Sport launched a global program called “Act for What Matters”. [8]It is a call for project to partner with 8 NGOs active on every continent in the field of peace building through Sport. Its goal is to develop bonds between International Federations, NGOs, NOCs and local authorities, building capacity of the educators on the ground, helping them to maintain and develop sustainable Sport for Peace programs.

"Sport Simple" solutions

Peace and Sport created an "Sport simple" manual. Sport Simple activities are sporting activity whose practice area, equipment and rules are adapted to the environment in which it is carried out.[9] This makes the sport easier to play and facilitates its use as a tool to promote and strengthen sustainable peace.

For example, World Rugby recognizes and promotes “touch rugby”, an adapted version of “traditional” rugby. Touch rugby is based on adapted rules and principles that allow participants to play rugby without having to partake in contact.[10]

The Champions for Peace
Champions for Peace la Paix during Peace and Sport International Forum in 2017

The Champions for Peace are high-level international athletes who want to support the most disadvantaged communities through sport. These athletes are gathered in the club of Champions for Peace.[11] It allows the champions to have a structure of action and common expression in favor of sports projects in the service of peace and social and human development.

These athletes use their notoriety, their skills and their means in the service of projects for the development of peace through sport. The latest athlete becoming Champion for Peace was Argentine football player Lionel Messi in December 2020.[12]

List of the Champions for Peace :

*Lionel Messi

Peace and Sport Forum

The Forum
Didier Drogba during Peace and Sport international forum in 2017

Peace and Sport International Forum is an annual event taking place in Monaco. It brings together people key-decision makers including Heads of State and Ministers, sport governing bodies, high-level athletes, international organizations, NGOs and Academia, and Champions for Peace.[13] It aims at identifying new solutions to solve international issue through sport. Muhammad Yunus, Didier Drogba or Christian Karembeu[14] were one the well-known speakers during this event.

Since 2017, Peace and Sport has organized a biennial regional forum to highlight local peace-through-sport initiatives. The first edition took place in Rhodes, Greece on October 18th 2018[15] co-organized with the South Aegean region.

The Awards

Launched in 2008, the Peace and Sport Awards put the spotlight on initiatives and individuals who have particularly contributed to peace and social stability in the world.

The Awards reward the expertise of various stakeholders working for sustainable peace through sport, through initiatives promoting the best practices in the field.[16]

Among the previous laureates, we find Blaise Matuidi, Pau Gasol, International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), FIFA or International Judo Federation.


International Day of Sport for Development and Peace

April6 web platform

At the UN headquarters in New York, on 23 August 2013,[17] the UN General Assembly declared 6 April as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) – a decision that represented a historic step in recognizing the transformative power of sport and its great potential in advancing positive social change.

This day is commemorated globally each year by international, regional, national sport and development organizations to honour the role that sport plays in society, whether by encouraging healthier lifestyles, making sport more widely accessible or using it as a vehicle for development in areas made vulnerable by conflict, poverty and inequality.

Peace and Sport has developed a web platform[18] for expression and promotion aimed at highlighting the initiatives led to celebrate 6 April.

In 3 editions, Peace and Sport and its platform has promoted 840 projects in over 170 countries.

Campaign #WhiteCard

#WhiteCard[19] operation highlights the actors of the peace-through-sport movement, and to provide an opportunity for all those who believe in the power of sport to change the world, to rally their support around a symbolic gesture.

Everyone can get involved easily: participants just have to take a 'selfie' or a group photo holding up a white card, just like a referee on a playing field. They then post the #WhiteCard photo on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.


Significant Actions

Rapprochement between North Korea and South Korea

In 2017, Peace and Sport in cooperation with the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) and the 2018 PyeongChang Organizing Committee unified players from the two countries for a photo during the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship Division II Group A in Gangneung. Athletes posed on the ice, holding up a #WhiteCard, the symbol of the sport-for-development-and-peace movement.

In 2018, a new step forward is achieved: Peace and Sport and the IIHF united the joint North-South Korea women‘s hockey team for a symbolic photo during the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games.[20]

UNFP / Peace and Sport Trophy

In 2015, the first UNFP / Peace and Sport trophy (French National Union of Professional Soccer) was awarded to the campaign "Soyons fiers de nos différences" (Be proud of our differences) led in Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 on the initiative of the Ligue de football professionnel and the Panamboyz United.[21]

Peace and Sport Documentary Prize at Sportel Awards Ceremony

During the Sportel Awards Ceremony, Peace and Sport rewards a filmmaker who, through a video clip or a movie, emphasizes the positive role of sport in peace promotion with the Peace and Sport Documentary Prize.

In 2018, the prize was awarded to Jamillah Van der Hulst for her movie "Fighting for Life".[22]

Monte-Carlo Fighting Trophy

In 2016, the Monaco organisation partnered with the Monte-Carlo Fighting Trophy to raise funds for Peace and Sport field actions. In 2018, the experience is renewed for the 5th Edition of the Trophy.[23]

"I Move For Peace" fundraising

I Move for Peace is a program that enables every active and would-be sportsperson (amateurs, professionals, teams, companies etc.) to put their sporting challenge at the service of fundraising for Peace and Sport’s field programs.[24]

References
  1. Hermann, Franck. "Place Royale : S.A.S. Le Prince Albert II a marché pour la Paix". www.radio-monaco.com. Archived from the original on 2016-06-04. Retrieved 2016-05-12.
  2. "« Peace and Sport » : Didier Drogba Vice-Président". La Tribune (in French). Retrieved 2018-12-12.
  3. "Lionel Messi, Champion for Peace of the Year I Peace and Sport Awards 2020". Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  4. "Interview : Joël Bouzou, Président de Peace and Sport - SportBuzzBusiness.fr". SportBuzzBusiness.fr (in French). 2017-12-21. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
  5. "Peace and Sport organise les Jeux de l'Amitié à Bujumbura du 11 au 13 Août 2017 | Médias Paix Sport". Médias Paix Sport (in French). 2017-06-27. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
  6. "Peace and Sport launch "Live Together" program in refugee camp". HelloMonaco. 2017-07-31. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
  7. "L'insertion avec Peace and Sport". ladepeche.fr (in French). Retrieved 2018-11-29.
  8. "Peace and Sport lance « Act for What Matters »". OSI Monaco (in French). 2016-06-09. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
  9. "Joel Bouzou: how sport can heal the world". HelloMonaco. 2017-11-30. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
  10. "World Rugby Laws - World Rugby's Law Education Web Site". laws.worldrugby.org. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
  11. "PEACE AND SPORT : LANCEMENT DES CHAMPIONS DE LA PAIX A MONACO | Bruno SROKA". www.brunosroka.com (in French). Archived from the original on 2018-11-15. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
  12. "Lionel Messi, Champion for Peace of the Year I Peace and Sport Awards 2020". Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  13. "FORUM INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SPORT". Sorties Média Presse (in French). 2015-12-19. Retrieved 2016-05-12.
  14. "Des intervenants de haut-vol attendus au Forum Régional Peace and Sport à Rhodes | Francs Jeux". www.francsjeux.com (in French). Retrieved 2018-11-28.
  15. "Peace and Sport présente son Forum régional en Grèce | Francs Jeux". www.francsjeux.com (in French). Retrieved 2018-11-15.
  16. "Inter Campus: Massimo Moratti ritira il Peace and Sport Awards". Inter-News (in Italian). 2015-11-27. Retrieved 2016-05-12.
  17. "United Nations Sport for Development and Peace - International Day of Sport for Development and Peace". www.un.org. Retrieved 2016-05-12.
  18. "Joël Bouzou: Time for transformative actions as April 6 is approaching". www.insidethegames.biz. Retrieved 2016-05-12.
  19. "Peace and Sport en force pour la journée du 6 avril | Francs Jeux". www.francsjeux.com. Retrieved 2016-05-12.
  20. "A Tricky Reunion on the Ice for North and South Korean Hockey". Retrieved 2018-11-29.
  21. "On a gagné le prix UNFP Peace and Sport 2015 ! - Panamboyz United". Panamboyz United (in French). 2015-05-18. Retrieved 2016-05-12.
  22. Nokovitch, Sacha. "Sportel Awards : Deschamps et Lizarazu récompensés". L'ÉQUIPE (in French). Retrieved 2018-11-29.
  23. "5e Monte-Carlo Fighting Trophy". www.visitmonaco.com. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
  24. ""I Move for Peace" pour contribuer aux projets de Peace and Sport | sportanddev.org". www.sportanddev.org. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
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