See the press release - Peace and Sport

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dubai Leads the Way in Using Sport as a Tool for Peace
in the Middle East
The first Peace and Sport Forum in the Middle East will take place in the
Emirate of Dubai in April 2013
Dubai (United Arab Emirates) 24 April, 2012 - The Dubai Sports Council and "Peace and Sport,
l’Organisation pour la Paix par le Sport" have formed a historic strategic alliance to make sport a
driving force for development, education, social cohesion and peace in the entire Middle East region
and further afield.
The partnership was announced today at a press conference attended by H.E. Mattar Al Tayer,
Deputy Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, and Joël Bouzou, President and founder of Peace and
Sport.
This collaboration between Peace and Sport and the Dubai Sports Council is aimed at introducing
concrete measures to reconcile communities through sport, to encourage dialogue, communication
and ultimately help societies to reconstruct peaceful foundations through youth education. This is
especially important in the somewhat unsettled climate following social, economic and political
upheavals in the aftermath of the "Arab Spring".
The first upshot of this partnership will take place in April 2013 with the launch of the Peace and
Sport Middle East Forum bringing together the region’s leading decision-makers from sport, the
private sector and civil society. Together, in a neutral environment, they will define actions and longterm
programs to make sport a pillar for youth education, inter-community dialogue and social unity
in the Middle East as well as the rest of the world.
H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman
of Dubai Sports Council is the High Patron of the launch event, where more than 200 key figures are
expected to take part in the debates that will last 3 days.
This Forum will initiate other joint actions from the Dubai Sports Council and Peace and Sport,
namely:
- Activities aimed at key decision makers to raise awareness about sport’s outstanding
potential to promote peace and social cohesion.
- Field programs in the most disadvantaged areas of the region and the entire world.
- The involvement of top-level Arab athletes to inspire and act as role-models for young
people.

H. E. Mattar Al Tayer, Deputy Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council emphasized the importance of
the alliance:
"We are very proud of the partnership that we are signing today with Peace and Sport, an
organization with such an international reputation that we are honoured to be associated with.
Furthermore, the partnership is fully in line with Dubai’s policy to promote human development, fight
poverty, spread knowledge, empower young people and give them the means to become self-reliant,
plus encourage communication and tolerance between cultures. The alliance with Peace and Sport
gives the Dubai Sports Council renewed ambition to support the ideals and the values of peace
brought by the sport movement.”
“In just a few years Dubai has succeeded in using sport as a springboard to enhance its international
outreach,” explained Joël Bouzou, President and Founder of Peace and Sport. "Today, this
partnership marks another major step that will foster peace, stability and development in the region
thanks to sport.”
He added: “Having a presence in the Middle-East based in Dubai and establishing a partnership with
the Dubai Sports Council is a coherent and logical move for Peace and Sport. The Emirate of Dubai
plays and will increasingly play a pivotal role in international relations during the 21st century, thanks
to the vision and leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. This
privileged situation will give our cause greater visibility to an audience of some of the most influential
leaders and decision-makers. Dubai is a natural partner for us as it also represents a haven of
neutrality and stability in the Middle-East region, key elements for peace-building that Peace and
Sport strives to preserve throughout all its activities.”
For more information, please contact
Peace and Sport - Valérie Amant
Tel: +33 (0)6 83 37 66 21
Email: press@peace-sport.org
www.peace-sport.org
Dubai Sports Council - Murad AL MASRI
Tel: +971 4 32 44 446
Email: murad.masri@dubaisc.ae
www.dubaisportscouncil.ae

NOTES TO THE EDITORS
About the Dubai Sports Council
The Dubai Sport Council was founded on 30 November 2005 by Decree of the Vice President of the UEA, the Prime
Minister, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Governor of Dubai.
Its objectives are:
- Develop and improve sport in Dubai
- Create comprehensive sports facilities that meet the requirements of society
- Prepare the ground so that young people can develop their sports abilities and cultural skills so that they can perform
at national, regional and international levels.
Our mission is to establish the ideal sports environment to make Dubai a world leader in sport.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.dubaisportscouncil.ae
ABOUT PEACE AND SPORT
Peace and Sport, L’Organisation pour la Paix par le Sport is a neutral international initiative. Created in 2007, the
organization is based in Monaco, under the High Patronage of HSH the Prince Albert II of Monaco.
Peace and Sport puts sport and its structuring values at the heart of development projects led within communities in crisis
around the world. With missions in post-conflict zones, areas of extreme poverty or lacking social cohesion, Peace and
Sport makes sport a vehicle for tolerance, respect, sharing and citizenship at the service of sustainable peace.
Supported by governments, world sport governing bodies, international organizations, major international companies in
the private sector and international sports champions, Peace and Sport creates synergies between various different
stakeholders to carry out four types of action:
- Organizing an annual International Forum (next edition in Monaco, 31 octobre-2 November 2012)
- a platform for cooperation for peace through sport,
- The Peace and Sport Awards, to reward individuals and initiatives contributing to peace,
- Locally-Based Projects; concrete actions in different regions of crisis in the world.
Peace and Sport was founded by Joel Bouzou, current President of the organisation. Mr. Bouzou is Olympic medallist and
Champion of world of Modern Pentathlon.
He is also President of the world Olympians Association and Secretary General of the Union international de Pentathlon
Moderne (UIPM) and Advisor to H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.peace-sport.org