The recommendations
of the “Peace and Sport Dubai Forum 2013”, which was held under the patronage
of his Highness Sheikh “Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum”, Crown
Prince of Dubai, Chairman of “Dubai Sports Council”, on (23/4/2013), called on
the international and sports organizations and authorities to dedicate (2014) as
the year of sport and peace, and the year of sporting values and principles, and
take “Dubai” as a model to the successful and peaceful coexistence of
nationalities and cultures, and dedicate one yearly celebration entitled “Sport
Unites Day”.
The forum, which was
held under the slogan “Together with Sports, We Build Sustainable Peace”, was
attended by the Arab Ministers of youth, sports, and education, along with a
number of officials, decision-makers, leaders of development, sports, and
youth, members of the diplomatic corps, and sport stars who hold the title of “ambassadors
of peace and sport”. His Highness said then that the forum, which is the first
of its kind in the “Middle East”, is considered the embodiment of the State’s
approach since its establishment (41) years ago by the late Sheikh “Zayed Bin
Sultan Al Nahyan” and the late Sheikh “Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum”, which is
the approach of peace and efforts for development, prosperity, and
collaboration with the nations, which is ensured and supported by his Highness
Sheikh “Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan”, the President of UAE, and his brother his
Highness Sheikh “Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum”, Vice President, Prime
Minister, and Ruler Of Dubai, who has recently launched an international award
for peace that holds his name.
The General Assembly
of “United Nations” decided in its (67th) session in (23/8/2013) to
announce the (6th) of April to be an international sport day for
development and peace.
The assembly this
year called all countries and the “United Nations System”, especially the “UN office”
concerned with utilizing sport for development and peace, specialized
international organizations, national, regional, and international sport
organizations, including the non-government organizations and the private
sector, and all stakeholders, to cooperate and celebrate the “International Day
of Sport for Development and Peace”, and raise awareness about it.
Sport is described
as a way to education, development, and peace, as it strengthens cooperation,
solidarity, forgiveness, understanding, social integrity, and health on the
local, national and international levels, and all people understand the core
values of sport such as teamwork, integrity, discipline, respect for opponents,
and respect for the game’s rules. These values, which can be utilized in the
solidarity, social cohesion, and peaceful coexistence, are the values that the
forum tried to consolidate and implement on the ground through its recommendations
which included the avoidance of the political interventions in sports, giving more
freedom for the sportsmen while travelling and moving, proving all means of
participation in the sports gatherings, encouraging the partnerships between
the “International Olympic Committee”, the sports federations, the local and private
sectors, and the civil societies and sports champions, which establishes the principles
of peace and sports, and curriculum design, so that it includes the Olympic
values adopted by the Olympic movement against violence, betting, and doping.
The forum launched
the “Sport and Peace” initiative, which is presented for the international
sport organizations in order to be a global event to support this distinguished
initiative, and use the power of sport to make changes for peace, and call the (UN)
to adopt the initiatives that call for peace and sport. The Forum also recommended
valuing the role of families, and empowering them to raise the awareness of the
generations about the importance of sport practices for being the best tool to
get rid of the pressures and today’s illnesses.
08/04/2014