Dubai, April 24, 2013 -‐ The first-‐ever Peace and Sport Continental Forum to be hosted in the Gulf and Arabic region is currently taking place from April 23 to 24 in Dubai. The groundbreaking event, delivered through a three-‐year cooperation between the Dubai
Sport Council and Peace and Sport, is a mix of debates, workshops and networking sessions focusing on the role of sport to positively influence the specific challenges undergone by the Arab world. “From here, by contributing to sustainable peace in the region, we are offering a unique contribution to peace for the world,” declared Joel Bouzou, President and Founder of Peace and Sport in his inaugural speech.
With a pioneering vision going beyond the geographical borders of the region, the Peace and Sport Dubai Forum 2013 is reaching out to a wide range of political, economic and sports actors. The inaugural ceremony held today at the JW Marriott Marquis was attended by more than 500 delegates and guests, including:
– Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum representing his brother the Crown Prince of the United Arab Emirates and Chairmain of Dubai Sport Council HH Sheik Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum
– IOC Vice-‐President Nawal El Moutawakel, IOC member HRH Prince Nawaf Faisal Fahd Abdulaziz and the Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development in UAE HE Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan.
– Prominent representatives of 15 governments, 19 International and National Sports Federations, 8 Olympic and Paralympic National Olympic Committees, 9 NGOs, and +100 local and international media
– World’s athletes committed to the Peace and Sport movement Charmaine Crooks, Donna de Varona, Hicham El Guerrouj, Rania Elwani, Christian Karembeu, Wilson Kipketer, Fareed A. Lafta, Tegla Loroupe, Kaveh Mehrabi, Steve Mesler Honey Thaljieh and Diego Maradona.
HRH Prince Nawaf Faisal Fahd Abdulaziz stated “Today, we re-‐affirm our unquestionable support for the peace through sport in word and action based on our belief in the possibility of achieving peace for prosperity and stability of human societies.”
Joel Bouzou emphasized the key role of sport to prepare the future in this strategic region: “The Gulf and Arabic Region has learnt from its past and respects its culture and its heritage. It has understood that patience, commitment and dedication are necessary elements to bring sustainable peace. Peace, Sport, reaching Peace through Sport, these are not just nice words to say here in Dubai. It is a concept that makes a deep, strong and unique sense, especially here. Organizing this first ever Peace and Sport Continental Forum in Dubai opens new opportunities for our organization in a region which has been investing so much in sport to make it a key element of the society. We applaud their efforts.”
The full programme of the Peace and Sport Dubai Forum 2013, videos and photos will beavailable on www.peaceandsport.ae
‐ END -
About the Peace and Sport Dubai Forum 2013
The Peace and Sport Dubai Forum 2013 in was born from the alliance of two prestigious institutions committed to put their strong leadership at the service of a more harmonious international community. Since the creation of the United Arab Emirates 40 years ago,
promoting Peace has always remained a key priority for Dubai leaders. As the city of Dubai has become a pivotal player of the international sports movement, host of many elite sports competitions and high-‐level institutional gatherings, the partnership with Peace and Sport has revealed a natural move.
Backbone of the global peace through sport movement, Peace and Sport permanently seeks to enlarge, federate and animate the local and global actors worldwide who express the will to use sport as a tool to bring communities together. Based on this complementary
leadership, the Peace and Sport Dubai Forum 2013 shall insufflate an inspiring Peace message towards the Middle East leaders and deliver a long-‐lasting legacy for developing and strengthening a strong Peace and Sport movement in the region.
Contacts presse:
Nicolas Serres + 33 658 224 423 nserres@therighttrack.eu
Vanessa Verron + 33 662 170 229 vverron@therighttrack.eu
www.peace-‐sport.org