International Day of Sport for Development and Peace

April 6 is the United Nations' (UN) International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, which recognizes the power of sport in promoting peace and erasing cultural barriers worldwide. Sport is a positive way of achieving goodwill, healthy competition and cooperation across all cultures.

This year more than ever, this celebration represents a very important day, that underlines the necessity to be united, to be equal, to be part of the same team including everyone, if we want to win and be stronger.

The intrinsic values of sport, such as teamwork, loyalty, discipline, respect for the opponent and for the rules of the game can be "exploited" to transpose these teachings into daily life, promoting social cohesion and coexistence peaceful.

These values will help all of us to get together through the current challenge: called Covid – 19 a global pandemic that hit the entire planet with incredible rapidity.

This situation has pushed us to review our priorities, to understand how fragile and vulnerable we can be, and only if we stay united and supportive, we can win.

Sport helps to understand this and today is a propitious day to send a strong message of global solidarity and reinforce our bonds with each other in an indissoluble way through sport.

Sport has the power to change the world; it is a fundamental right, a powerful tool to strengthen social ties and promote sustainable development, peace and respect. 

Through our unique individual skills and collective power, we can come together and share creative ways to improve our health and well-being through sport and physical activity - even from the confines of our own homes.

Yesterday also Pope Francesco has dedicated a message to the sport in the Angelus celebrated during the Palm Celebration in St. Peter's Basilica: "In this period, many events are suspended, but the best fruits of sport come out: endurance, the spirit of team, brotherhood, giving the best of ourselves. So, let's relaunch the sport for peace and development ".

Sport must be and remain a powerful vehicle to build a better world through the values of values of brotherhood, team spirit and solidarity, that inspire and educate youth make stronger people.

Stay Strong, Stay Active, Stay Healthy