Africa celebrates 2nd International Day of Sport
Proclaimed by the UN on 23 August 2013 at the initiative of the IOC, the «International Day of Sport for Development and Peace» shall be celebrated for the second time on 6 April 2015. It seeks to recognise and foster the huge efforts made by peace and development stakeholders through sport. The UN and IOC leaders also sought through this, to project sport as a powerful tool for community development, peace keeping and reconciliation.
As the supreme governing body of the African Olympic Movement, ANOCA thus takes advantage of the celebration of this 2nd edition to remind all and sundry that the celebrations are holding against a backdrop of conflicts that hamper economic, social and cultural development in Africa. 6 April 2015 will again afford an ideal opportunity for Africa to gauge how sport impacts development and peace and recognise the immense work done on a daily basis by athletes, sports technicians, administrators and volunteers in uniting people, at times in conflict, usually under difficult conditions.
ANOCA thus looks forward to well-coordinated celebrations in Africa, as Intendant General Lassana Palenfo asserts : «Beyond the celebration of this day, the sheer power of sport as a peace and development lever deserves to be highlighted across Africa. Sports solidarity is a powerful tool that can bring peace and development where they are needed, especially in an Africa at crossroads, where war, hatred, natural disasters … leave in their wake poverty, hunger and misery. ANOCA, through its outreach in many refugee settlements, the fight against Ebola as well as its action via diverse sports events, has contributed in improving livelihoods for young people and adults alike. It should be acknowledged that sport can unite where war tears apart. I thus urge all stakeholders of the African Olympic and Sports Movement and State leaders to celebrate sports values on that day and bear in mind that sport must increasingly be taken into consideration and used in conflict resolution and, above all, to create conditions necessary for lasting peace. Long live sport!»
To find the complete ANOCA Press Release, click here
