To mark and coincide with International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, Save the Dream – an initiative established by the ICSS in partnership with the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), has teamed up with the Ministry of Sport of Republic of Iraq to host the country’s first national conference on sport for peace, which took place in Baghdad on April 4.
Looking at ways sport can build peace, promote international dialogue and drive sustainable development, the conference brought together high level delegates representing governments, international organisations, NGOs, diplomatic figures, along with representatives of international organisations accredited in Iraq.
Save the Dream’s Executive Director Massimiliano Montanari joined the Iraqi Minister of Sport to open the event, whose sessions were moderated by Siham Alawami, Director of Special Projects at the International Centre of Sport Security (ICSS).
Save the Dream’s participation in the event reflects the ICSS’ keenness and ongoing efforts to promote the message of sport as an important mean of conflict resolution and building peace, and spreading values of respect and tolerance.
It also confirms its firm commitment to empower young people and women, promote health, education, sustainable development goals, and social integration.
The Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Iraq, Abdul Hussein Abtaan, opened the conference, stressing in his speech that sport is a mean of spreading peace and love, promoting health, and fighting terrorism, drugs and doping, organisational crime, in addition to its economic value.
He urged the participants to implement the recommendations adopted by the conference and aimed at achieving development and prosperity. He called for holding an international conference on sport investment, which will bring together businessmen, academics, and experts in the field. Sport has become an important pillar to increase employment opportunities and enhance national economies, he explained, calling for joining forces with private sector to achieve these goals.
For his part, Save the Dream’s Executive Director Massimiliano Montanari said: “Sport spreads a strong message aimed at building bridges between civilizations, and fighting violence and segregation,” referring in this context to sport boycott of South Africa during the apartheid era.
“Sport was able to unify North and South Korea and made history,” he stressed.
“Save the Dream works to empower youth and inspire societies towards the practice of sport. People inspired by sport values abhor corruption, discrimination and violence.
“We are honoured to assist the government of Iraq in the organisation of its First National Conference on Spot for Peace; this is the best tribute we could pledge in support of the April 6, the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.
“I trust this conference will promote the development of a national roadmap utilising sport to contribute to the efforts of the Iraqi nation in the field of dialogue and reconciliation”.
For her part, Siham Alawami, Director Special Projects at the International Centre of Sport Security (ICSS) said: “We are delighted to be part of organising the first edition of the National Conference for Peace and Sport in Iraq. We are here today to celebrate sport and spread values of peace as the world marks the international day of sport for peace and development.”
“This conference has a particular importance, reflecting Iraq’s leading position at the international sport community while stressing the power of sport as a mean to unify people from different backgrounds, in addition to its role in enhancing human rights and social and economic development,” adds Alawami.
The aim of the event, moderated by Save the Dream Director for Special Projects Siham Alawami, is to create an open platform to exchange ideas and drive forward solutions for Iraq linked to social development and peace building, through sport.
Aligned with the UN’s International Day of Sport for Development and Peace on April 6, the conference will highlight the power of sport as a development tool and help to raise awareness of the progress being made in Iraq through the collaborative efforts of the public, private and philanthropic sectors using sport to drive change and empower young people across the country.
An open message to the United Nations Secretary-General was delivered by an Iraqi child, sending a call from all Iraqi children to guarantee their right of a safe and peaceful sport and lift the ban imposed on the Iraqi sport.