04/10/2018 - Peace and Sport
The Press Conference for the announcement of Peace and Sport Regional Forum, entitled “Societies in Motion: Rising up through Sport”, was held on September 26th with great success and numerous guests, at the roof garden of Electra Metropolis Athens hotel. In collaboration with the Region of South Aegean, the Regional Forum, designed by Peace and Sport, will take place for the first time in Greece, at the iconic island of Rhodes, on October 18th, 2018.
The main goal of the forum is to promote sport as a tool for social development, identify regional challenges and build synergies that encourage the inclusive impact of sport for society. Aiming to attract more than 350 major decision-makers from across the Mediterranean region, the Peace and Sport Regional Forum will bring together regional Head of States, Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, sports governing bodies, high-level athletes, international organizations, NGOs and academia.
The Forum will be marked by the presence of high level speakers including football star and Champion for Peace Christian Karembeu, basketball legend Nikos Galis and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate 2015 Ouided Bouchamaoui.
Key speakers of the press conference’s panel were: George Hatzimarkos, Governor of the region of South Aegean, Joël Bouzou, Peace and Sport’s President and Founder, and Christian Karembeu, Champions for Peace for Peace and Sport.
Initiating the conversation, George Hatzimarkos, Governor of the region of South Aegean, highlighted: “We will be pleased to welcome you on the island of Rhodes for the Peace and Sport Regional Forum. Rhodes is a gateway to cultures, ideas, religions. The Peace and Sport Regional Forum in Rhodes is the best expression of our heritage principles: cooperation and peace. These two values illustrate the DNA of our island.”
Joël Bouzou, Peace and Sport’s President and Founder, pointed up: “Currently there are a great number of peace-through-sport initiatives and some remarkable actions taking place in the Mediterranean region. As a result, we are delighted to work together with the Region of South Aegean to gather key leaders to discuss how to tackle social challenges through sport”.
Christian Karembeu, Champions for Peace for Peace and Sport, carried on underlining among others: “Sports support the development of team spirit, solidarity and fair play, which are vital values for the progress of social life. I am particularly pleased to be part of this initiative and participate in the dissemination of values for the common good that guide me throughout my career.”
Aegean Airlines is Gold Sponsor for Peace and Sport Regional Forum. Remaining loyal to its promise to bring people closer, Aegean Airlines is working with Peace and Sport on this unique initiative to inspire dialogue, cooperation and growth of societies, through sport, at the island of Rhodes.
“Aegean Airlines is pleased to partner for this event. The island of Rhodes is not only an amazing tourist destination that attracts thousands of travelers from all over the world, it is also the crossroad of cultures and civilizations and a great place to send a message of peace”, said Mrs. Stavroula Saloutsi, Aegean’s Public Relations & Press Director
In the symbolic venue of Greece – the cradle of Olympism and a pivotal crossroads between three continents, the Peace and Sport Regional Forum, which count with the support of Eleven Campaign, will highlight the connection between sport and the local community. The main topic on the agenda will be ‘cities as a hub of innovation and social inclusion through sport’ and focus will be given on success factors in the use of sport as platform to create inclusive communities, networks and regional cooperation. A decision-making Roundtable with a panel of regional policy-makers will help to advance domestic and international development-and-peace objectives utilizing sport.
As part of the forum, Peace and Sport will award three international and four regional organizations and individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to peace, dialogue and social change in the world through sport.
Register at Peace and Sport Regional Forum here:
https://www.peace-sport.org/forum-en/registration-to-the-peace-and-sport-regional-forum-2018/