Major sporting events sometimes take a very unexpected form. On Sunday April 6, 2014, the entire planet will celebrate the first International Day for Development and Peace. The rather original initiative came from two institutions, the United Nations and the International Olympic Committee. But, relayed by Peace and Sport, it should take a less formal turn this Sunday.
The Monegasque organization took on the project head on with the desire to give it muscle and breath. First idea: set up an online platform, www.April6.org, supposed to centralize projects and actions in favor of peace through sport. Three days before the event, Thursday April 3, it listed more than 3 initiatives organized around the world, in around fifty countries.
Second action: the #CartonBlanc digital operation. She calls on the public, anonymous people or personalities from the sporting world, to post “selfies” on social networks. Sergei Bubka, Paula Radcliffe, Yelena Isinbayeva, Tatiana Golovin and Serge Betsen have already participated. Lamine Diack, the president of the IAAF, and Marius Vizer, his counterpart from the International Judo Federation and SportAccord, also played the game and joined the movement.
Joël Bouzou, the founding president of Peace and Sport, traveled to Geneva this Friday, April 4, to debate at the United Nations the role of sport for development and peace. A discussion in which Mario Pescante, vice-president of the IOC, and former athlete Wilson Kipketer also take part.
In Monaco, nearly 400 young people gathered today around sporting and intellectual competitions, in the presence of Paula Radcliffe and Pernilla Wiberg. An event organized by the Princess Charlene Foundation, in partnership with the Directorate of National Education, Youth and Sports of the Principality of Monaco and Peace and Sport.
Still in Monaco, Lamine Diack is due to kick off athletics events this Friday, April 4, at the Stade Louis II, which will bring together nearly 200 young people. Like the IAAF president, they are all participating in operation #CartonBlanc.
For Joël Bouzou, the president of Peace and Sport, this day of April 6 must bring together as many people as possible, mobilize energies and break down borders. “It is a tribute to the fantastic work of men and women who work to bring divided communities together through sport, sometimes in devastated areas, he explains. This International Day must serve as a media and educational springboard to explain to the general public how sport can be useful in the effort for Peace. We hope that this initiative will encourage new players to join us to launch new projects. »
