International Centre for Sport Security joins International Day of Sport for Development and Peace activations

Tribune News Network Doha This year the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) was invited by its United Nations’ partners to join various activati...

Tribune News NetworkDohaThis year the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) was invited by its United Nations’ partners to join various activations to mark the 6th of April, the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace. In this framework, all ICSS entities including its ‘Save the Dream’ initiative took part in three high-level events on topics concerning sport and its vital role in building bridges, empowering communities and fostering peace and development in disadvantaged communities and the society. Under the main theme ‘Only Together’, the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, the United Nations focused, inter alia, on the impact of COVID-19 on sport and the importance of solidarity and cohesion in contributing to the recovery from the pandemic and leveling the playing field. As part of the first activation, the ICSS intervened as a contributor during a roundtable webinar hosted by the Embassy of the State of Qatar in London, which featured, among various other initiatives, a joint project which was implemented by Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), Qatar Charity (QC) and the ICSS in 2018, to promote peace and development through sport for the Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in Darfur. Speaking at the panel, Massimiliano Montanari, CEO, ICSS, said: “When we talk about sport for development and peace, and sport as a tool for the prevention of violent extremism, it is evident that grassroots initiatives are one of the key contributing factors that hold the power to initiate the needed change process in disadvantaged communities.”During the second activation of the day, the ICSS took part in a forum hosted by Instituto Matias Romero of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico titled ‘Sport Diplomacy and Cooperation for Peace and Development’.Taking part in the forum Mohammed Hanzab, Founder and Chairman, ICSS stated in his remarks that “Sport can foster peace in the world’s most divided places and contribute to reconciliation, unification and integration. Sporting events are an important part of culture. Regardless of the type and level of competition, sporting events bring together large audiences from diverse communities, regions, religions and beliefs. This provides a great platform and an opportunity to disseminate messages of acceptance, mutual respect, humility, compassion, and tolerance.”The third activation of the day was a youth forum on the topic ‘Rebuilding Post-Pandemic Societies: Youth Using Sport to Prevent and Counter Violent Extremism. The event was co-organised by the ICSS and its UN Global Programme partners as a side event of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).