Sport has the power to bring people together and promote the values of cooperation and peace. That was the main message of an event entitled ‘Olympism for Peace’, held under the auspices of the French Embassy in Cyprus at the Olympic House in Nicosia, in recognition of the Winds of Change bicommunal sailing project.
In her opening speech, Ambassador of France in Cyprus Salina Grenet-Catalano said that the Winds of Change project is an inspiring example of the ability of sport to bring together and mobilize people to share values of unity and equality.
She added that following the tradition of Olympic truce since Greek antiquity, France submitted last November a draft resolution for Olympic truce to the UN General Assembly, which was adopted with a very large majority and highlighted the principles of universality, non-discrimination, equality and autonomy of sport, aiming at preventing political fragmentation and making the Olympic games a symbol of global unity, so that sport can foster dialogue.
She add
ed that these values are essential in today’s world where autocratic powers and extremism threaten the world order and democratic principles, at a time when Europe experiences a level of aggression, unseen since World War II, and a destructive conflict takes place a few miles from Cyprus in Gaza.
‘Against these forces of hatred, violence and division, promoting the values of sport, peace and reconciliation is a duty more sacred than ever. That is why initiatives such as the Winds of Change project, driven by young people, should be highlighted and France will always be supportive to such initiatives’ French Ambassador concluded.
For her part, House Speaker Annita Demetriou said that the project sends an important message of unity, equality, peaceful settlement and the necessity to establish a safer and more prosperous future for Cyprus.
She added that the project is a testament of the power of sport in fostering mutual understanding and sending messages to both communities of the island about the ‘common u
nlimited potential that can only be achieved through peace and cooperation’.
‘The participation of members from both Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities symbolises the unity that should be and can be achieved through shared goals’ Demetriou stressed, adding that their journey symbolises peace, prosperity and unity for a better future for all.
Colin Stewart, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in Cyprus, said that such events can bring communities together, adding that the Winds of Change initiative was not only valuable as an example of cooperation and sports’ spirit, but it also symbolically represented the fact that Cypriots want a future, and this will have to be achieved by working together.
He also said that the UN has recognized the importance of sports for peace and it does whatever it can in Cyprus to support and promote bicommunal activities as a way to create conditions that will lead to a solution, noting the importance of sport for building bridges between people.
Nico
sia Mayor Constantinos Yiorkadjis said in his address that sport has long been recognised for its ability to bring together people of different backgrounds, adding that it took a group of young people to remind us of the epitome of the Olympic spirit, friendship and peace.
‘These values and hope sailed with you all around Cyprus, creating an image of a free and united Cyprus, which we hope to see soon’, he added.
Finally, Mayor of occupied Nicosia Mehmet Harmanci said that the project inspires us all to never step back on our goals, while, highlighting sports’ contribution to peacebuilding efforts, he cited the example of the latest Cyprus Rally stage in Nicosia where racing cars drove through the buffer zone checkpoints for the first time and proposed the common organisation of a marathon race in Nicosia.
Subsequently, Winds of Change Founder Sophia Papamichalopoulos presented the main milestones of the project and participation certificates were awarded to the project’s ambassadors.
The event concluded
with a panel discussion on ‘Olympism for Peace and the way forward’, with the participation of representatives from the International Olympic Committee and the academia, as well as former Olympians.
Source: Cyprus News Agency