Great Lakes Friendship Games bring together Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda to celebrate the values of peace through sport
The fourth edition of the African Great Lakes Friendship Games will take place on 21 and 22 September 2013, for the second time in Luvungi, Democratic Republic of Congo.
These two days of cross-border sporting events, aimed at promoting peace, will bring together more than 300 young people aged 9-15 from Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.
Now in their fourth year, the Great Lakes Friendship Games have become a key event for peace and diplomacy through sport. This project, spearheaded by the organization Peace and Sport, is gaining increasing recognition and support from political and sporting authorities in the region and attracting more and more visitors from the local community each year.
This gathering will bring together young people from youth centres in the areas bordering Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, for sporting, cultural and awareness-raising activities aimed at promoting peace. The Games provide the young people with a unique opportunity to forge friendships, embrace a sense of community, and play their part in strengthening peace efforts in the Great Lakes region.
Luvungi, Democratic Republic of Congo, will for the second time host the Friendship Games, in which more than 300 young people aged 9 to 15 will take part. The various different communities that these young people come from have been made vulnerable by years of widespread conflict.
“I am delighted that this fourth edition of the Friendship Games will take place in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and for the second time in Luvungi. The National Olympics Committee and the Ministry of Youth and Sport of the South Kivu province have got behind this Peace and Sport initiative and are supporting the work of the educators and youth centres taking part in the Games. More than just a sporting event bringing together young people, the Friendship Games represent a global and positive movement in the Great Lakes region. This international gathering is unique in its ability to unify different communities.” says Mrs. Bernadette Masoka, Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
A number of organizations are on board to help ensure the success of the Games, including the International Olympic Committees of Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, the Ministries of Youth and Sport of the three countries and the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).
The contribution of these different actors to the event each year has enabled the Games to become a true catalyst for building sustainable peace in this region of Africa, which for many decades has been in the grip of conflict.
Joël Bouzou, President and Founder of Peace and Sport, says: “Over the last four years, the African Great Lakes Friendship Games have become a crucial event for all of these young people. A wider range of sporting activities is being run each year and an increasing number of young people are taking part. The culture of tolerance and respect engendered by sport means that the Games provide them with an opportunity to make friends, talk and overcome their prejudices. I would like to thank all of our partners in this initiative, who work daily to bring stability to this particularly fragile region of Africa, and without whom the Games would not be possible. Here is to a successful 4th Friendship Games and to many more in future!”
Vénuste Niyongabo: an outstanding ambassador
Gold medallist in the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games and Peace and Sport Champion for Peace since 2010, Vénuste Niyongabo is one of 78 international athletes that have joined forces with Peace and Sport to support the peace through sport movement.
In 2013 Vénuste Niyongabo will be ambassador for the Friendship Games for the third year running. His goal is to show the young people of Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda that it is possible to understand each other, find common ground and live together peacefully.
During the Games, Vénuste will also take the lead in the “Peace Run”. This run, kicking off after the opening ceremony, will mark the official start to the Friendship Games and will be an opportunity for all of the participants to join him in celebrating this symbolic event while representing their respective countries.
“The Friendship Games between Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda are aimed at bridging gaps between communities and encouraging dialogue between different regions in these countries. This event, which promotes local cultural differences, fosters an approach that, through sport, can strengthen social cohesion. We need to incentivize local authorities to organize more such events if this initiative is going to stand the test of time.” - Vénuste Niyongabo, ambassador for the 4th Great Lakes Friendship Games
“These Games are a unique event that gives the young participants an opportunity to experience and live in the same shared environment over two days. They also enable our mentors to spread a message of peace to the local communities.
Inter-community conflicts have caused lasting damage in this region, and I have found that these peace-building sports events have the power to get young people together and get them talking. The Friendship Games have therefore had a positive impact on daily life.” - Romain Kiyuma, youth centre director
NOTE TO EDITORS
Key figures from the 2012 edition:
• 300 participants between the ages of 9 and 15
• representatives from National Olympic Committees and the Ministries of Youth and Sport of Burundi, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as local political authorities
• Close to 2,000 spectators
• the event gained recognition from 10 National Sports Federations and 3 International Sports Federations
About Peace and Sport
“Peace and Sport, L’Organisation pour la Paix par le Sport” is a politically neutral, international organization based in the Principality of Monaco. It was founded in 2007 under the High Patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco.
Peace and Sport puts sport and its core values at the heart of local development projects carried out within communities in crisis around the world. Conducting its missions in post-conflict zones and areas marked by extreme poverty or a lack of 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 private companies and international sports champions, Peace and Sport creates synergies between different stakeholders to carry out four areas of action:
• organizing an annual International Forum (next edition being held from 6 to 8 November 2013 in the Principality of Monaco)
• a resource centre for peace through sport,
• Peace and Sport Awards recognizing individuals or initiatives contributing to peace,
• Locally-Based Projects; concrete actions in different regions of crisis worldwide.
Peace and Sport was founded by Joël Bouzou, current President of the organization. Joël is an Olympic medallist and World champion in the modern pentathlon, and President of the World Olympians Association. He is also an Advisor to H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco.
For more information, visit www.peace-sport.org
Press contact:
Peace and Sport
Laurent Dupont: + 33 (0)6 78 63 48 04 / ld@peace-sport.org
These two days of cross-border sporting events, aimed at promoting peace, will bring together more than 300 young people aged 9-15 from Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.
Now in their fourth year, the Great Lakes Friendship Games have become a key event for peace and diplomacy through sport. This project, spearheaded by the organization Peace and Sport, is gaining increasing recognition and support from political and sporting authorities in the region and attracting more and more visitors from the local community each year.
This gathering will bring together young people from youth centres in the areas bordering Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, for sporting, cultural and awareness-raising activities aimed at promoting peace. The Games provide the young people with a unique opportunity to forge friendships, embrace a sense of community, and play their part in strengthening peace efforts in the Great Lakes region.
Luvungi, Democratic Republic of Congo, will for the second time host the Friendship Games, in which more than 300 young people aged 9 to 15 will take part. The various different communities that these young people come from have been made vulnerable by years of widespread conflict.
“I am delighted that this fourth edition of the Friendship Games will take place in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and for the second time in Luvungi. The National Olympics Committee and the Ministry of Youth and Sport of the South Kivu province have got behind this Peace and Sport initiative and are supporting the work of the educators and youth centres taking part in the Games. More than just a sporting event bringing together young people, the Friendship Games represent a global and positive movement in the Great Lakes region. This international gathering is unique in its ability to unify different communities.” says Mrs. Bernadette Masoka, Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
A number of organizations are on board to help ensure the success of the Games, including the International Olympic Committees of Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, the Ministries of Youth and Sport of the three countries and the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).
The contribution of these different actors to the event each year has enabled the Games to become a true catalyst for building sustainable peace in this region of Africa, which for many decades has been in the grip of conflict.
Joël Bouzou, President and Founder of Peace and Sport, says: “Over the last four years, the African Great Lakes Friendship Games have become a crucial event for all of these young people. A wider range of sporting activities is being run each year and an increasing number of young people are taking part. The culture of tolerance and respect engendered by sport means that the Games provide them with an opportunity to make friends, talk and overcome their prejudices. I would like to thank all of our partners in this initiative, who work daily to bring stability to this particularly fragile region of Africa, and without whom the Games would not be possible. Here is to a successful 4th Friendship Games and to many more in future!”
Vénuste Niyongabo: an outstanding ambassador
Gold medallist in the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games and Peace and Sport Champion for Peace since 2010, Vénuste Niyongabo is one of 78 international athletes that have joined forces with Peace and Sport to support the peace through sport movement.
In 2013 Vénuste Niyongabo will be ambassador for the Friendship Games for the third year running. His goal is to show the young people of Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda that it is possible to understand each other, find common ground and live together peacefully.
During the Games, Vénuste will also take the lead in the “Peace Run”. This run, kicking off after the opening ceremony, will mark the official start to the Friendship Games and will be an opportunity for all of the participants to join him in celebrating this symbolic event while representing their respective countries.
“The Friendship Games between Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda are aimed at bridging gaps between communities and encouraging dialogue between different regions in these countries. This event, which promotes local cultural differences, fosters an approach that, through sport, can strengthen social cohesion. We need to incentivize local authorities to organize more such events if this initiative is going to stand the test of time.” - Vénuste Niyongabo, ambassador for the 4th Great Lakes Friendship Games
“These Games are a unique event that gives the young participants an opportunity to experience and live in the same shared environment over two days. They also enable our mentors to spread a message of peace to the local communities.
Inter-community conflicts have caused lasting damage in this region, and I have found that these peace-building sports events have the power to get young people together and get them talking. The Friendship Games have therefore had a positive impact on daily life.” - Romain Kiyuma, youth centre director
NOTE TO EDITORS
Key figures from the 2012 edition:
• 300 participants between the ages of 9 and 15
• representatives from National Olympic Committees and the Ministries of Youth and Sport of Burundi, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as local political authorities
• Close to 2,000 spectators
• the event gained recognition from 10 National Sports Federations and 3 International Sports Federations
About Peace and Sport
“Peace and Sport, L’Organisation pour la Paix par le Sport” is a politically neutral, international organization based in the Principality of Monaco. It was founded in 2007 under the High Patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco.
Peace and Sport puts sport and its core values at the heart of local development projects carried out within communities in crisis around the world. Conducting its missions in post-conflict zones and areas marked by extreme poverty or a lack of 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 private companies and international sports champions, Peace and Sport creates synergies between different stakeholders to carry out four areas of action:
• organizing an annual International Forum (next edition being held from 6 to 8 November 2013 in the Principality of Monaco)
• a resource centre for peace through sport,
• Peace and Sport Awards recognizing individuals or initiatives contributing to peace,
• Locally-Based Projects; concrete actions in different regions of crisis worldwide.
Peace and Sport was founded by Joël Bouzou, current President of the organization. Joël is an Olympic medallist and World champion in the modern pentathlon, and President of the World Olympians Association. He is also an Advisor to H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco.
For more information, visit www.peace-sport.org
Press contact:
Peace and Sport
Laurent Dupont: + 33 (0)6 78 63 48 04 / ld@peace-sport.org