Pope Francis recognizes International Day of Sport for Peace, calls for end to war in Ukraine

Pope Francis appealed for prayers to end the war in Ukraine on the occasion of today’s celebration of the International Day of Sport for Peace and Development.

The Holy Father Francis addressed Tuesday’s General Audience at Paul VI Hall on the grounds of Vatican City and Rome.

“Today is the World Day of Sport for Peace and Development, announced by the United Nations,” Pope Francis said in his address. “I appeal to sportsmen and women, so that through their activity they can be active witnesses of fraternity and peace.

“Sport, with its values, can play an important role in the world, opening paths of harmony between peoples, as long as it never loses its ability to give free money: sport for sport, and does not become commercial. That amateur-ishness typical of real sport.”

Francis was addressing groups of pilgrims, Italian faithful and other worldwide visitors following his recent Apostolic Journey to Malta, which he discussed in his dialogue prior to focusing on the celebratory day connecting sport and peace.

History of the date

The International Day of Sport for Development and Peace was adopted at the United Nations 67th General Assembly on August 23, 2013, supported by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), at the U.N. Headquarters in New York.

Following presentations by United Nations members from Monaco, the United States, Australia, Costa Rica, Israel, and Belarus, all voicing support for the initiative, IOC president Jacques Rogge addressed the U.N. General Assembly during an informal segment of the proceedings on that Friday morning.

“Your decision recognizes the value of the work that is underway every day, in every region of the world, to share the joy and benefits of sport with people of all ages and abilities,” Rogge said to the U.N.

“Designating the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace will bring others to this great cause and deliver more benefits to more people,” Rogge stated, while sitting between Serbian president of the General Assembly president Vuk Jeremić and world number one tennis player Novak Djokovic.

The resolution was swiftly passed. After the session, Rogge spoke to Around the Rings.

“I think one should not understate the symbolic importance of this: the acknowledgement of the value of sports for education, the value of sports for health and the value of sports to contribute to a better peace climate,” Rogge told ATR’s Brian Pinelli.

“All of this has been recognized by the United Nations and I think this is a landmark day,” he said.

Rogge emphasized the accomplishments and value of the relationship between the IOC and U.N.

“We have already done a lot together with the United Nations,” Rogge said. “In 2009, we obtained a Status of Observancy of the General Assembly, which non-government agencies can have. It opens the doors of the United Nations.”

Joining Rogge in New York then were fellow IOC members Angela Ruggiero and Anita DeFrantz of the United States, Richard Carrion of Puerto Rico, Austin Seale of Barbados, IOC Athletes Commission chair Claudia Bokel, IOC International Cooperation Director Tommy Sithole and USOC Chairman Larry Probst.

Future Olympic Hosts celebrate the day

Eight years after the inaugural International Day of Sport for Peace and Development on April 6, 2014, the important message recognizing the transformative power of sport and its limitless potential to contribute to positive social change is as strong as ever.

Milano Cortina 2026 unveiled a video on social media including Olympians and Paralympians passing along a symbolic ‘white card’ to one another to mark the occasion and celebrate the day.

Athletes joining in included Tokyo 2020 100m gold medalist Marcell Jacobs, Italian alpine skiers past and present Federica Brignone, Deborah Compagnoni, Isolde Kostner, swimming great Federica Pellegrini and para cross country Paralympics bronze medalist Giuseppe Romele.

“Today we raise a white card as a symbol that represents the positive energy of sport for peace. Milano Cortina 2026 joins the international campaign of Peace and Sport because we believe that sport can really change the world,” the Milano Cortina 2026 message read.

It concluded with “Give peace a chance.”

Also recognizing the significant occasion and message, Paris 2024 co-organized a global relay with the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs to celebrate the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.

Tony Estanguet, President of Paris 2024, commented: “sport gives us the opportunity to work together, to share things, to push through our own limits and in so doing, become better, together.”

“Every embassy and every territory involved in the relay around the world will help to create a moment of conviviality, brotherhood and unity, built around sport. Through this ground-breaking event and thanks to the commitment of our embassies, we are driving Paris 2024′s message of engagement further, broadcasting it out across the entire world.”

The relay involved public figures, Olympic athletes, and the general public, spanning the entire globe through the utilization of embassies and French overseas departments, regions and territories.

Peace and Sport

Through its WhiteCard 2022 digital campaign, Peace and Sport also celebrated the day, reaffirming sport is a great tool for creating and maintaining links beyond all differences and that it contributes to a more united world.

This year, Peace and Sport’s mobilization was launched along with a strong statement calling for peace following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

The document was signed by more than 700 representatives of the sporting world, including 49 Champions for Peace and 18 Olympic Champions. The Champions for Peace who signed the statement, in addition to the athletes, members of civil society organizations and political figures, are brandishing their white cards as a symbol of peace through April 12.

“At a time when risks of division await us, I invite sports and peace actors, political leaders and representatives of the private sector, to raise their #WhiteCard as a sign of support to all peace efforts,” said Peace and Sport founder and president Joel Bouzou. “More than ever, it is necessary to recall the contribution of sport to conflict prevention, conflict resolution and in post-conflict processes.”

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