Leading international and regional sporting figures as well as decision-makers from the region‘s governing bodies and the world's sports organisations have confirmed their participation for the first-ever Peace and Sport Dubai Forum.
 
Dubai will be hosting the first ever Regional 'Peace and Sport Forum' on April 23 and 24 at the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel under the Patronage of Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince and Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council.

The objectives of the event are to demonstrate a commitment to helping communities in crisis around the world and making sport a vehicle for tolerance, respect and citizenship with the goal of sustainable peace.
 
The Peace and Sport Dubai Forum 2013 will be  attended by Nawal El Moutawakel, Vice-President of the International Olympic Committee, Prince Nawaf Faisal Fahd Abdulaziz, President of the Union of Arab National Olympic Committees as well as Hicham El Gerrouj, Middle distance Olympic and World Champion, and  Fifa Director Walter Gagg.

Among the many other renowned athletes and Peace and Sport Champions for Peace who will join the conversation and share their invaluable experience as sports icons  are Charmaine Crooks, Rania Elwani, Christian Karembeu, Fareed Lafta, Tegla Loroupe, Steve Messler and Honey Thalijeh.
 
Registration for the participants is now open, and all peacemakers are invited to register their participation in what promises to be the start of a new dawn in peace activism using the universal language of sport in the Middle East.

The groundbreaking Peace and Sport Dubai Forum will focus on the themes of sustainable peace through sports policies, the importance of sport at the service of the societies and the challenges faced by communities locally and regionally.

The activities will include workshops, case studies and detailed discussions, as well as plenary sessions that will give a broader insight of the challenges in these areas.

The guests and attendees of the Peace and Sport Dubai Forum 2013 will also be provided with high-standard networking initiatives, giving them unique opportunities to exchange experiences and appreciate the diversity of the movement.

Founded in 2007, it will be the first time this prestigious international forum has met in the Middle East region although a number of Arab athletes are among the growing league of 'Champions of Peace' that support the organisation at all levels such as Moroccan middle distance running star Hicham El Guerrouj and recently appointed Ambassador of peace, Palestinian Female footballer Honey Thaljieh.

Speaking on behalf of the Dubai Sports Council, Secretary General Dr. Ahmad Al Sharif said: “We are very proud to be hosting this significant event and bringing the Peace and Sport Forum to our region for the very first time. Dubai has been long regarded as a safe haven in this region, and our intention is that the Peace and Sport Dubai Forum 2013 be a Beacon for Peace in the region where we can all share our experiences and solutions to bring about concrete changes and help those in need through sports.”

“The fact that so many high profile speakers and participants are already confirmed from the Arab World and beyond demonstrates the understanding that sports can play an important role in peace.”

Since its creation in 2007 in Monaco, it has attracted some of the world’s most famous sportsmen and women to become ambassadors including the world’s number one tennis player Novak Djokovic, Ukrainian pole vault legend Sergey Bubka, World Rally champion Sebastian Loeb, Namibian sprint star Frankie Fredericks, All Blacks rugby legend Jonah Lomu and US high jump pioneer and Olympic gold medalist Dick Fosbury.

President and Founder of Peace and Sport, Joel Bouzou, himself a decorated Olympian added: “It is a great step for the Peace and Sport Dubai Forum 2013 to be held in the Middle East for the very first time.  This is a region that has suffered a great deal from conflict over the years but we are convinced that sport can prove a powerful unifying force for peace in the region.”

To find out more about how to participate at the Peace and Sport Dubai Forum 2013 log on to https://www.peaceandsport.ae or contact the Dubai Sports Council on +971 4 324 4446.