Royal support central to global campaign aimed at helping youth from areas in conflict, find common ground and peaceful goals through sport. 150,000 youth targeted over next three years
April 19, Amman, Jordan: HRH Prince Feisal bin-Al Hussein, brother of King Abdullah II of Jordan, today launched Peace Through Sport – a new global initiative which aims to use sport as a means to help instil dialogue, tolerance and ultimately peace amongst young people in areas experiencing conflict and hostility.
Peace Through Sport will identify and bring together leaders of youth from divided communities around the world and train them how to provide organised sport for youth as a way of helping to heal the divides.
The programme is the brainchild of HRH Prince Feisal, who as President of the Jordan National Olympic Committee, recognises the increasingly important role sport takes in providing stability and social cohesion in the life of young people in the region.
HRH Prince Feisal said:
“My father His Late Majesty King Hussein, was passionate about seeking peaceful solutions to the region’s greatest conflicts. This tradition is being carried on by my brother His Majesty King Abdullah II and I am honoured to also carry on our father’s work”.
“This is the right time because we are experiencing the greatest ever rise in turmoil, division and extremism. Not just here in this region, but throughout the world. Government-led solutions and diplomacy must remain the route to resolution but there is also a great need to support these top-down initiatives with grass roots actions. Peace 2 Through Sport will be planting seeds of peace throughout the divided world.” HRH Prince Feisal added.
Peace Through Sport is supported by both the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the United Nations (UN). HRH Prince Feisal fronted the launch in Amman to representatives of national and international media and representatives of the Olympic Movement, headed by the longest serving IOC Member in the region, Mr Toni Khoury of Lebanon.
Khoury commented:
“My own nation, Lebanon, is continually suffering upheaval and conflict and often sport is one of the only ways of inspiring young people and giving them hope. We shall certainly be sending Lebanese leaders of youth to Peace Through Sport camps in Jordan to keep the flame of peace alive.”
The United Nations Under Secretary General and Special Adviser to the Secretary General on Sport for Development and Peace, Mr Adolf Ogi, sent a goodwill message to HRH Prince Feisal on the occasion of the launch and said:
“Peace Through Sport is a promising initiative which represents a crucial effort in ensuring peace and stability in the region. I look forward to continued involvement in the promotion of Peace Through Sport in the Middle East and around the world.”