International Day of Sport for Development and Peace
April 6 was declared as the
International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) by the UN General
Assembly in 2013, creating a historical link to the first modern Olympic Games
in 1896.
This decision represented a
significant step in recognizing the transformative power of sport and its great
potential in advancing positive social change.
Due to its vast reach,
unparalleled popularity and foundation of positive values, sport is ideally
positioned to contribute towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
Ever since its creation, many
organizations and individuals have celebrated on this day the role that sport
plays in society and its power to foster dialogue, understanding, social inclusion
and peace.
April6 is a celebration of the
work being carried out every day by sport organizations, athletes, coaches and
NGOs that play a fundamental role by transmitting the educational values of
sport to people of all ages throughout the world.
In the current circumstances,
April6 represents a propitious day to continue sending a message of global
solidarity, unity, respect of the rules, team spirit and reinforce fraternity
and cooperation.
WhiteCard
As a reference to the yellow
and the red card in the sporting world, since 2014 a #WhiteCard is a symbol,
created by the organization Peace and Sport, representing the positive
power of sport for peace and social inclusion.
Every year, through the #WhiteCard
campaign, Peace and Sport mobilizes the sports world as well as governments
and civil society to celebrate the International Day of Sport for Development
and Peace.
The core message of the 2020
#WhiteCard campaign is “Behind each #WhiteCard, there is a story”. It
seeks to highlight and draw attention to the stories of individuals and
beneficiaries who have been positively impacted by sport all around the globe.
Through a #WhiteCard, each of
us can encourage its community to stay home, respect the rules, stay healthy
with sport, and thus send a message of unity and global solidarity.
To participate, take a picture
of yourself (or with your #stayathome partners) while holding a white card and
share it on all your social networks using the hashtag #WhiteCard and the tag
@peaceandsport.