We have the pleasure to inform you that once again this year the World Archery Federation has decided to take action on the occasion of April 6, the “International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.”
This International Day, which concerns us all, was established by the United Nations General Assembly and the International Olympic Committee on August 23rd 2013. This decision represented an historic step in recognizing the transformative power of sport and its great potential in drivingpositive social change.
This year, the World Archery Federation is committed to honour the role that sport in general, and archery in particular, plays in society. That is why we invite you and your member federations to mobilize, join forces and bring to light projects and events related to peace and development through sport.
As you may know, the organization Peace and Sport (www.peace-sport.org), under the High Patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, partner of the World Archery Federation since 2011, was recognized by the United Nations and the International Olympic Committee as the leader for the awareness raising campaign over this important day. We are pleased to share with you some guidelines provided by Peace and Sport on how to celebrate April6 and promote the sport’s unique power to unite people, create dialogue and foster social development and peace around the world.
There are two (2) different ways to participate in the April6 celebration:
- Organising an event: You can either choose an existing event in your calendar or create a new one, between 10 March and 10 April 2017, and name it accordingly (i.e. “Friendship Cup”, “Peace through Sport Trophee”, “Make a friend cup”, “Team Spirit Cup” etc). The event can involve both children and adults and shall include a moment in which the role of sport as tool for peace is considered. You will find some more guidelines and examples of events organized by other sport actors around the world on the April6 platform (www.april6.org). In three years, more than 840 projects, held across 180 countries on 5 continents were registered on the www.april6.org platform. As for previous editions, Peace and Sport will present to the IOC and the UN a report with all the events that were organised and registered to celebrate April6 around the world. That is why we strongly encourage you to register the events that you and your members will organize, so that the IOC and the UN, as well as the general public, will acknowledge the power of archery on social development and Peace.
- Taking a #whitecard picture: You can support the “Peace through Sport” movement by taking a picture while holding a white card and by posting it on your social media and website. A picture with a white card represents a symbolic action, in reference to the red card, which signifies the most serious offense that a sports player can commit. The colour white symbolizes instead purity and peace, and is therefore used to represent positivity and constructiveness in sport. On the April6 platform (www.april6.org) you will be able to find guidelines on the correct hashtags to use on social media and a gallery with all the #whitecard pictures taken during the previous editions of International Day for Sport and Development and Peace.
Attached to this email you will find a short guide on April6 and on ways to celebrate it. Additionally, we are pleased to share a document created by Peace and Sport on the meaning and value of Peace through Sport.
We are looking forward to learning more about the ways in which you will celebrate the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.