Generations For Peace would like to wish you a very happy International Day of Sport for Development and Peace! What is IDSDP you ask? Well let us tell you.

On 23 August 2013, the United Nations General Assembly approved the establishment of an International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) to be celebrated 6 April each year. Today, 6 April, was selected in commemoration of the first modern Olympic Games (which were opened on 6 April 1896 in Athens). Among others, the objectives of the IDSDP are to:

Promote sport (and physical activities more generally) as a universal language, and as a unique tool for education, for youth development, and for achieving broader peace building objectives;

Promote quality physical education for all children and youth;

Recognise the various initiatives being carried out by the International Olympic Committee and Olympic Movement concerning Sport for Peace and Development;

And, advocate the importance of investing in sport (e.g. developing infrastructures and granting accessibility to grassroots sport programmes).

IDSDP is a celebration of sport as a vehicle for change, as a tool to assist in the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. “We have seen the true worth of sport and physical activity many times. It builds self-confidence; it defies gender stereotypes; it provides and alternative to conflict and delinquency; it improves health; it can bring hope and a sense of purpose to refugees, impoverished communities and other people in need,” said Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Celebrating IDSDP:

To celebrate this momentous day, the International Olympic Commitee (and various National Olympic Committees) have taken the opportunity to showcase how they, and their various affiliate organisations, use sport as a catalyst for peace and development.

Generations For Peace, institutional partner of the Jordan Olympic Committee, recognises IDSDP a day of great significance. As the only “Peace through Sport” organisation recognised by the IOC, GFP takes pride in its ongoing use of sport to promote youth leadership, community empowerment, active tolerance and responsible citizenship. GFP recognises that sport is a vehicle that can contribute to peace building and conflict transformation.

For specifics on how Generations For Peace celebrated this historic day, please visit our Facebook page.

Participants enjoying a Sports For Peace Event in Makassar, Indonesia

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