Sochi Prepares for 2012 Peace and Sport International Forum

Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games © • Sochi 2014

“The event will become an integral part of a dedicated Sochi 2014 Olympic Truce concept, already being developed into real peace-making initiatives that are leaving a sustainable legacy today and resulting in major transformational changes across Russia.”

Anatoly Pakhomov, Mayor of Sochi today received the Peace and Sport flag from HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and Joel Bouzou, President and Founder of Peace and Sport, marking the fact that Sochi will be hosting the major peace-making sports event, the 6th Peace and Sport International Forum in 2012. The ceremony was held during the 2011 Peace and Sport Forum in front of 500 world decision-makers from sports and politics.

A senior Sochi 2014 delegation has arrived in Monaco to take part in this year’s Peace and Sport Forum, which traditionally brings together influential figures who strive to use sport to promote and build sustainable peace in vulnerable communities throughout the world. The delegation includes Natalya Parshikova, deputy Sport Minister of Russia, Anatoly Pakhomov, Mayor of Sochi, and Dmitry Chernyshenko, Sochi 2014 President and CEO.

The forum also included The Peace and Sport Awards ceremony, which this year saw Mr Chernyshenko present the highly prestigious Sports Event for Peace of the Year Award to the East Africa Cup, youth football tournament which is held annually in Kilimanjaro-Tanzania.

Mr Pakhomov said: “Through the Peace and Sport Forum we aim to raise awareness among political and sports leaders about sport’s extraordinary capacity to create a genuine and sustainable culture of peace. Where better to hold it than Sochi - the crossroads of so many cultures across Asia, Europe and the Middle East. We are honoured to have such a fantastic opportunity to show the very best of Sochi to the world and play an active role in promoting sport as a means for creating sustainable peace.”

Mr Chernyshenko said: “It is a great honour to host such a significant event in Sochi in 2012. Peace and Sport is an inspiring example of how sport can promote understanding and tolerance, while acting as a highly effective tool to create a lasting peace in regions across the world.

“The event will become an integral part of a dedicated Sochi 2014 Olympic Truce concept, already being developed into real peace-making initiatives that are leaving a sustainable legacy today and resulting in major transformational changes across Russia.”

Mr Bouzou commented: “Russia is a country which plays, and will increasingly play, a pivotal role in international relations during the 21st century, a country with a deep and admired passion for sport and for its values.

"In line with the efforts of the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee to actively encourage dialogue between cultures and nations, the Peace and Sport International Forum 2012 in Sochi, its first ever international iteration, will help build greater understanding, friendship and respect across borders.”