Leading figures gather for first Peace and Sport Forum in Saudi Arabia
The White Card was raised at the close of the Forum (Photo © Peace and Sport)
The Peace and Sport Middle-East Forum, organised by the Saudi Arabian Olympic and Paralympic Committee, is a premium platform for dialogue on peace through sport.
It brought together decision-makers, champions for peace, and experts to discuss the theme “Sport is an answer for peace,” in the presence of Prince Albert II.
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“I share the conviction that sport has a unique and extraordinary vocation to bring people together for a common cause, to enable communities that have been torn apart to re-establish ties and to help populations’ resilience,” said the Sovereign.
“Putting the values of sport at the service of sustainable peace and making it a driving force for social integration for the most disadvantaged is certainly one of the most beautiful causes that man can defend.”
One of the highlights of the debates was the presence of football stars who are committed to coexistence and inclusion through sport, such as Nadia Nadim, 2023 Champion for Peace of the Year, Didier Drogba, Vice-President of Peace and Sport, and Sadio Mané, the Senegalese international.
The forum focused on four central themes: supporting athletes’ social commitment, maximising the social impact of sporting events, creating coalitions to foster best practices, and promoting the campaign.
Saudi Arabia’s new Champions for Peace inducted
“We share a vision of sport as a fair and universal tool. A fantastic asset to establish a culture of peace and collective well-being through dialogue,” said Joël Bouzou, President and Founder of Peace and Sport, in his opening address. “This is not simply a matter of affirming a conviction, it is a matter of demonstrating, through concrete evidence.”
The Peace and Sports Awards ceremony brought the event to a close, promoting best practice in sport as a tool for peace.
Sadio Mané (Al Nassr), the first recipient of the Socrates Award, which rewards footballers who are most committed to society through their solidarity initiatives, confessed that he was “very happy” to receive the Socrates Award, “not for the trophy itself,” but because he realised “the extent of the impact” his actions had on his community.
The ceremony ended with the induction of new Saudi Arabian Champions for Peace, who will spread the message of Peace through Sport in the Kingdom over the coming months.
The full list of winners: Peace through Sport Initiative of the Year: Zalmi Foundation (Pakistan), Georges Malaika Foundation (Democratic Republic of Congo). Combat Sport Initiative of the Year: World Taekwondo. Special Jury Prize: Gamers Without Borders (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia). Peace Champion of the Year: Nadia Nadim (Denmark).
“The values of respect, cooperation and fair play rooted in sport are without doubt part of the concept of peace and positive engagement in order to achieve a common language that unites us in different parts of the world,” said Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal in conclusion.