(L-R) ICSS president Mohammed Hanzab, Save the Dream executive director Massimiliano Montanari and director for social innovation Pedro Velazquez during the XXI CID Annual Assembly in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Agencies/San Juan, Puerto Rico
As Ibero-American nations prepare to host some of the largest major sport events, including the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, the Ibero-American Sports Council (CID) invited the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) to participate at its 21st assembly in Puerto Rico.
In front of sport ministers and government bodies from 20 countries in Latin America as well as Spain and Portugal, the brief of the ICSS intended to assist its members untap the potential of sport as an educational tool and support positive social change through sport across the region was welcomed by CID members.
To achieve this aim, a declaration was adopted by the CID Assembly welcoming the work developed by the ICSS, through its Save the Dream initiative, to promote and protect sport values for the good of young athletes and youth at large, as well as promoting the use of sport as a tool for social inclusion.
Speaking on the occasion president of the Ibero-American Sports Council Ramón E. Orta Rodríguez, said “Through its Save the Dream programme, the ICSS has become a globally-renowned and respected voice in promoting the importance of sport and its social and educational values to young people. On behalf of the CID, I am welcome their commitment to enhance the safety, security and integrity of sport across the region.”
The ICSS also extended an offer to the Ibero-American countries to join the interregional platform established by the ICSS to protect the integrity of sport.
President of the ICSS Mohammed Hanzab said: “The Ibero-American Sport Council (CID) is a key organisation and represents some of the most influential countries in the world of sport. On behalf of the ICSS and our Save the Dream programme, we are delighted to work with the CID for what will be an important step forward for both organisations and the future of Ibero-American sport.
“Like the CID, we believe in the power of sport to enhance the lives of young people, its positive contribution to society, as well as the need for greater collaboration between sports organisations and governments in the area of sport safety, security and integrity.
“We intend to build on the good faith shown in the ICSS by the CID to protect and promote the values of sport across Ibero-America countries through our Save the Dream initiative, as well as safeguarding sport in the region.”
