(ATR) Generations for Peace ends its eighth peace-building camp by signing a Memorandum Of Understanding with Sochi 2014pledging to work together on sustainable projects.
In attendance at the camp’s closing press conference to announce the partnership were GFP founder Prince Feisal Al Hussein of Jordan, Sochi 2014 president Dmitry Chernyshenko, Russian deputy prime minister Dmitry Kozak and Sochi mayor Anatoly Pakhomov.
"This agreement marks the beginning of a new and exciting phase between Generations For Peace and Sochi 2014, another new chapter in a story that keeps evolving." said Prince Feisal.
Chernyshenko then offered his thanks to the Prince of Jordan, who founded the Generations For Peace initiative in 2007.
"I would like to extend my personal gratitude to His Royal Highness Prince Feisal Al Hussein for your personal presence and personal inspiration here," said Chernyshenko.
"The value of this whole movement provides opportunities for young people. We all recognize sports as an important instrument in peace building and we cannot overstate the importance of the memorandum signed today" he added in reference to GFP, which has now staged two international peace building camps targeted towards youth at the Black Sea resort.
Standing in front of the GFP delegates on stage, Prince Feisal presented Kozak with a volleyball signed by the youthful delegates and future leaders.
Pakhomov also extended his personal thanks to Prince Feisal and his goals centered around bringing sport and peace together as a tool to resolve world conflicts.
"Your initiative is very importantto our success in hosting this international event in 2014," he said with reference to the Sochi Winter Olympics.
Chernyshenko, a native of Sochi who was appointed CEO of the bid committee in November 2005, spoke about the legacy Sochi hopes to create.
"We think that peace building and the preparation for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games go together," he said.
"We want to organize the most innovative Games which will cradle the spirit of new modern Russia which is changing a lot through these positive changes."
Kozak added that he hoped that Prince Feisal and the GFP camps would return to Sochi in the future, while the Prince paid his compliments to the resort city after completion of his second camp there.
"When we leave the beautiful city of Sochi tomorrow, one chapter will come to a close, but together we are about to start writing a new chapter; and from what I have seen in my time here, it is going to be quite a page-turner," he said.
The ten-day camp witnessed 53 delegates representing Russia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia and Georgia complete a curriculum comprised of 10 highly-developed modules –four of which were sport-specific –along the path to becoming a certified Peace Pioneer.
A farewell gala livened with entertainment in the elegant Atrium Hall of the RUS Resort, also the camp venue, officially closed Generations For Peace Sochi 2011.
Written and reported in Sochi by Brian Pinelli .
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