Sports for Peace
“Sport has a unique and irreplaceable capacity to unite people, going far beyond ethnic, religious or social differences.
I am convinced that sport can be at the long-term service of peace”
HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco
In Ancient Greece, a series of competitions were held every four years between representatives of several city-states and kingdoms of Ancient Greece. The Olympics allowed the Greeks to set aside conflict and war, to celebrate friendship and unity, to experience peace through sports.
This promise of peace is The Olympic Truce, an ancient tradition, believed to have started in 776 BC in ancient Olympia in the name of ‘Ekecheiria’, which means “holding back one’s hand”. This peace accord, having lasted through more than one millennium of history, has now been revived for the London 2012 Olympics to offer hope and opportunity for dialogue, heartening and inspiring all humanity to be at peace. Sports, indeed, has great prospective in contributing to world peace and utilising the world’s foremost sports competition is the finest way to do so.
The Modern Olympic Games was started by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, who had the dream of creating world peace; of creating an international event during which all conflicts and wars would stop and all differences would be forgotten. He immortalised this dream in the Olympics logo itself, The Olympic Rings. These five rings represent the five continents of the world, ready to compete against each other. Moreover, the six colours, including the white background, combine all nations, without exception. It is a true international emblem.
Sport principally reunites relationships across the social, economic and cultural rifts in society. Sport builds a sense of shared distinctiveness and communion among groups which otherwise, would treat each other with mistrust, hostility and violence. When properly sustained, sport programmes can contribute in this process by creating more prospects for social exchange.
I am convinced that sport can be at the long-term service of peace”
HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco
In Ancient Greece, a series of competitions were held every four years between representatives of several city-states and kingdoms of Ancient Greece. The Olympics allowed the Greeks to set aside conflict and war, to celebrate friendship and unity, to experience peace through sports.
This promise of peace is The Olympic Truce, an ancient tradition, believed to have started in 776 BC in ancient Olympia in the name of ‘Ekecheiria’, which means “holding back one’s hand”. This peace accord, having lasted through more than one millennium of history, has now been revived for the London 2012 Olympics to offer hope and opportunity for dialogue, heartening and inspiring all humanity to be at peace. Sports, indeed, has great prospective in contributing to world peace and utilising the world’s foremost sports competition is the finest way to do so.
The Modern Olympic Games was started by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, who had the dream of creating world peace; of creating an international event during which all conflicts and wars would stop and all differences would be forgotten. He immortalised this dream in the Olympics logo itself, The Olympic Rings. These five rings represent the five continents of the world, ready to compete against each other. Moreover, the six colours, including the white background, combine all nations, without exception. It is a true international emblem.
Sport principally reunites relationships across the social, economic and cultural rifts in society. Sport builds a sense of shared distinctiveness and communion among groups which otherwise, would treat each other with mistrust, hostility and violence. When properly sustained, sport programmes can contribute in this process by creating more prospects for social exchange.