Stars gather for Peace and Sport Dubai Forum

The President and Founder of Peace and Sport Joel Bouzou has hailed the leadership of the UAE for using sport as a tool to spread the message of peace around the world.

“For years, the United Arab Emirates has shown the rest of the world that it is possible to live as one people. I believe there are more than 200 different nationalities living here in total peace and harmony and it is here that Dubai stands out as an example to the rest of the world,” Bouzou told the media at the pre-event conference at the JW Marriott Marquis on Monday.

“Leaders from across the world now see the need to use sport to attract the youth. I have a lot of hope for this region. This region will not only contribute to peace and harmony in this region but to the whole world,” he added.

Founded in 2007, it will be the first time this prestigious international forum meets 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.

Since its creation in 2007 in Monaco,it has gathered global momentum and is actively helping in initiatives around the globe. 

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.

Dr Ahmad Sa’ad Al Sharif, Chairman, Organising Committee and General Secretary, Dubai Sports Council (DSC), said Dubai is regarded as a safe haven because it promoted a healthy sporting culture.

“Today, we have more than 41 per cent of the population in Dubai involved in some sport activity. We believe that a healthy community is in a better position to contribute to peace and overall growth of a country,” he said.

“We always believe that sport is a fantastic tool. It is an example for the whole world. For us, sport is not just sport. It is much more. It is a universal language. It can speak even if you don’t belong to the same region or religion or social status. One can mutually understand each other. It is a unique phenomenon,” Dr Al Sharif added.

Themed ‘Together with sport…We build sustainable peace”, the forum programme will offer a wide range of workshops and plenary discussions focusing on strategies to encourage Arab and global leaders to build sustainable peace through sport policies, and to showcase opportunities for sport-based initiatives to become active as a major factor in shaping societies and fostering the dialogue between nations in conflict.
 
The opening workshop on Tuesday, titled ‘Leading the way’, will define the basis and the format of the two-day forum starting from leaders’ visions for global peace to create open and interactive  discussions to foster sustainable solutions.
 
All elements of the forum are designed to offer a platform on which stakeholders can present their case studies as well as offer a unique networking opportunity between local, regional and global high-level decision-makers.
 
The opening ceremony will be held on Tuesday at 6.30pm.

The sixth and last edition of the Peace and Sport International Forum was held in Sochi on the Black Sea in October 2012. Sochi will play host to the next Winter Olympics in 2014.