The High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), HE Nassir Abdulaziz al-Nasser, announced the launch of a two-year project aimed at developing a common doctrine on ‘Sport Volunteerism’ during the 8th UNAOC Global Forum held in United Nations headquarters in New York on Tuesday.
The project will drive intercultural and inter-faith dialogue, equality, peace, and conflict resolution by providing young people specialised in sport and youth leaders with concrete and action-oriented educational and training tools to be used in youth empowerment and capacity-building activities based on sport.
Speaking of the initiative, he said, “As a part of the co-operation agreement signed during the 7th UNAOC Global Forum held in Baku with Save the Dream, the UN Alliance of Civilizations has partnered a two-year project aimed at developing a common doctrine on ‘Sport Volunteerism’ as a way to develop skills of youth also in view of future employment opportunities at major sporting events, including but not limited to Olympic Games and World Cups.”
During the forum focused on the role of sport in building Global Citizenship, Save the Dream Executive Director Massimiliano Montanari highlighted the importance of the project, which was selected for EU co-funding within the framework of the Erasmus+ Sport programme and will start at the beginning of 2019, relating to the participation of youth in ‘sport for peace and development’ projects.
Montanari said, “Save the Dream is honoured to be part of this project which will be co-ordinated by the International Olympic Truce Center (IOTC) to be working with multiple organisations like the UNAOC who are focused on the role of sport in our society. We believe that sport volunteerism has paramount importance in fostering youth mobility and connectivity and skills development.”
He added: “We look forward to work together and create a global movement that foster intercultural dialogue across nations, promoting peace and socio economic development though sport for the benefit of our future generations.”
Opened by the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the forum brought together key international figures from diverse fields to build productive partnerships and networks to promote inclusive approaches to conflict prevention and sustaining peace.