Rhodes to Host Peace & Sport Regional Forum in October

Former football player Christian Karembeu is among the speakers of the Peace and Sport Regional Forum. In the photo with South Aegean Governor George Hatzimarkos; modern pentathlon Olympic medallist Joël Bouzou; former Tourism Minister of Greece Fani Palli Petralia and Aegean Public Relations and Press Director Roula Saloutsi. Photo Source: @George Hatzimarkos

The Greek island of Rhodes will host the Peace and Sport Regional Forum on October 18, at the five-star Rodos Palace Hotel and the Ancient Stadium.

Co-organized by the South Aegean Region and the Peace and Sport Organization, the event, titled “Societies in Motion: Rising Up Through Sport”, will focus on integrating the values of sport into communities and using sport as a vehicle for tolerance, respect, sharing and citizenship.

“We are delighted to welcome the Peace and Sport Regional Forum to the island of Rhodes. Hosting an event of this calibre on an island that is a gateway to cultures, ideas and religions best reflects the principles on which our heritage is based: cooperation and peace. These two values are deeply impressed in the identity of Rhodes,” said South Aegean Governor George Hatzimarkos during a press conference on the event held recently in Athens.

The international forum is expected to bring together over 350 delegates from the fields of politics, sports, the private sector and civil society, who will discuss ways synergies in sport can contribute to peace.

Issues to be addressed during the panel discussions include the role of sport in creating peaceful communities, networks and regional cooperation; cities as a hub of innovation and social inclusion; investing in human capital for social and economic development. The forum will also include a roundtable, a sport diplomacy event, a pitch exchange, a gala dinner and an awards ceremony.

George Hatzimarkos,  Joël Bouzou, Christian Karembeu during the press conference.

Founded in 2007 by modern pentathlon Olympic medallist Joël Bouzou, Peace and Sport is an independent organization that uses sport and its values as an incentive for peace.

“At the moment, there are many initiatives promoting sport as a means of achieving peace, and some of these remarkable actions are taking place in the Mediterranean. We are very pleased to be working with the South Aegean Region discussing with important leaders how to tackle social challenges through sport,” said Bouzou.

Aegean Airlines is an official partner and the official airline of the Peace and Sport Regional Forum.

For more on the Peace and Sport Regional Forum, or to register, go here.