Peace and Sports 2014 Forum Outlines Shortlist for 8th Edition

doctor helvetica, sans-serif;”>It has been announced that Beijing, Dallas and Glasgow make up the shortlist as official candidates to host the eighth edition of the Peace and Sport International Forum in 2014

The Peace and Sport summit brings together key opinion leaders and decision makers from politics, sport, business and civilian life on all five continents, to discuss initiatives and partnerships that position sport as a tool for dialogue, reconciliation and social stability throughout the world. In a neutral and independent environment, over 550 delegates from 100 countries each year debate the indispensable contribution of sport to peace-building and peace-keeping processes throughout the world.

However it is understood that changes have been made, with the Forum now holding ambitions to be held abroad every alternate year. Until now, the event has traditionally been staged in Monaco every year. The first edition outside the Principality will take place this year in the Russian city of Sochi from October 31 to November 2. The 2012 Forum will see the announcement of the 2014 host.

After expressing their motivation to organise the Peace and Sport International Forum through a letter, Glasgow, Beijing and Dallas were chosen to bid their experience in hosting international diplomatic and high-level sporting events, and their programme to ensure that the Forum leaves a long-term legacy.

Joël Bouzou, president and founder of Peace and Sport, said: “The aim of the Forum is to promote diplomacy through sport, to generate synergies between stakeholders and, above all, to enable concrete proposals to emerge designed to help communities in need. To do this, it is crucial that the event regularly relocates to different parts of the world, to raise awareness about the power of sport as a tool for peace amongst new political, business and sporting decision-makers. Glasgow, Dallas and Beijing fully meet this objective and their applications are of very high quality.”

In the second stage of the selection process, the three cities must submit detailed bid documents specifying their ability to host the event and their plans to further enhance its outreach and impact. The American city of Lake Tahoe and the Russian city of St. Petersburg both applied to host the 2014 Forum, but failed to make the three-city shortlist.

 

By Marc Sibbons