by Luca Marchetti
One White Card for the pace. The Principality of Monaco throws a appeal to ask for the end of war in Ukraine. And it does so with an initiative launched by the NGO Peace&Sportan organization that has been fighting for world peace for 15 years, based in the Principality of Monaco and under the patronage of Alberto II. It was the Prince of Monaco, a member of the International Olympic Committee since 1985, who wanted to use sport as a diplomatic tool. And so on Friday 4 March the NGO Peace & Sport launched its appeal for peace in Ukraine.
Sport as a force for Peace
Almost 100 athletes and #ChampionsforPeace are joining @peaceandsport by signing a statement that calls for peace & unity.
We invite you to raise your #Whitecard as a response to the conflicts.
You too sign here : https://t.co/uw2g2yuwGS#Ukraine pic.twitter.com/biU8Zyk5rb
— Peace and Sport (@peaceandsport) March 4, 2022
In particular, the NGO based in the Principality of Monaco invites everyone to demonstrate their commitment to dialogue by holding up a white card, the #WhiteCard, as a symbol of peace through the world of sport. “On all occasions, before a match, in the stands, wherever possible – writes the NGO Peace & Sport – let’s get together around this symbol”. From the sample Didier Drogbavice president of the NGO Peace & Sport, to the historic coach Luis Fernandez up to Canadian taekwondoka Marlene Harnessthere are already many Champions for Peace who have joined the initiative.
By raising my #WhiteCardI am supporting @peaceandsport‘s call for unity. Because it fosters dialogue, sport is an answer for peace. I invite you to join this mobilization by signing this statement https://t.co/LYfUg4pGdm #WhiteCard pic.twitter.com/JDsb0kD0x4
— Marlene Harnois (@HarnoisMarlene) March 4, 2022
In a declaration already signed by over one hundred athletes from all over the world, Peace & Sport wanted to recall what happened a few weeks ago during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. “Only a few days ago, which now seem like an eternity – writes Peace & Sport – a gesture of sporting fraternity marked the ceremony of the medals of the freestyle ski jumping competition: after winning the first medal of his country, the Ukrainian Oleksandr Abramenko hugged his competitor, Il’ja Burovrepresentative of the team of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) “.
The embrace between the Ukrainian Oleksandr Abramenko and the Russian Ilya Burov at the Beijing 2022 Olympics
“A symbolic hug on the podium – writes the NGO -, which probably went unnoticed by most. A few days later, in fact, the Russian tanks crossed the border between the two countries and the choice of weapons was preferred to dialogue. Since then, numerous economic, financial and military sanctions have been imposed and sporting institutions around the world have legitimately added their exclusion measures against this unacceptable violation of international law and this attack on a sovereign state ”.
“That embrace does not become just a memory”
However, the NGO emphasizes, this does not mean that that embrace should remain only a memory. “This – comments Peace & Sport – would mean forgetting the power of sport and its ability to bring people together and remove obstacles; would mean forgetting that sport, in its neutrality, fairness and universality, is a formidable tool for creating dialogue and promoting peace. It would mean forgetting that, beyond the multiplying walls and the killing bullets, there is a world community that shares the same values of peace through sport and that believes in the effectiveness of ‘soft diplomacy’ and positive influence. that it can have on society “.
Faced with the violence of the fighting, the NGO Peace & Sport therefore wanted to pay homage to the immediate commitment of the world of sport for peace. “This mobilization must not weaken. Everyone can act at their own level “, writes the NGO, concluding the statement recalling what the South African Nobel Peace Prize winner said in 1984 Desmond Tutu: “Do your little bit of good where you are; it is these small contributions that put together overwhelm the world ”.