Sixth April was proclaimed by the United Nations Organization (UNO) as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace on 23rd August, 2013 vide General Assembly Resolution no 67/296 in its Sixty Seventh Session. The resolution inter alia invited "The United Nations System and, in particular, the United Nations office on Sport for Development and Peace, relevant international organizations and international, regional and national sports organizations, civil society, including non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the private sector to observe the Day."
To put into practice the above UN resolution, the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace was observed all over the world on 6th April, 2014, Sunday for the first time. International Olympic Committee, as the biggest international non-governmental not for profit organization, observer of UN General Assembly, as the supreme authority of the Olympic Movement which "contributes to building a peaceful world by educating youth through sport" responded to the call of the UNO. The IOC has decided to observe 6th April, 2014 throughout the Olympic World side by side with UNO, its agencies, NGOs and other stakeholders. His Excellency Thomas Bach, the IOC President and the person at the helm of the World Olympic Movement, has, under his hand, requested the Presidents of the NOCs (National Olympic Committees), one of the three basic constituents of the Olympic Movement vide e mail no. THB/kam, dated 14 March 2014 to celebrate this Day in a befitting manner. To provide the NOCs with a practical guideline on the performances of the Day, he has kindly focused on the objectives of observance of the Day, highlighted the key messages to be given to the society while observing the Day and lastly, suggested possible actions to be initiated by the NOCs on this occasion.
No doubt, among the organizations invited by the UNO to observe this Day internationally for the first time, the role of the IOC is of prime importance and most significant. Because, "The Goal of Olympism," the philosophical guiding force of the IOC or the Olympic Movement, "is to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of mankind, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity". Moreover, IOC's role in realizing the objectives of the International Day of Sport for Peace and Development is pivotal and front ranking since the "Goal of the Olympic Movement is to contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practiced in accordance with Olympism and its values". Hence, it can be said that the UNO has been inspired by the vision, mission and role of the IOC and the Olympic Movement to utilize sport as one of the means of establishing peace in the conflict-ridden world.
It may be noted that harnessing the peace building force of sport is nothing new in society or civilization. Our ancestors of the Greek civilization which established the human institution of Olympic Games first explored and utilized sport as a tool of establishing peace. During the olden days Greek City States were at war with one another. Ancient Olympic Games held in Olympia, was the oldest among the Pan Hellenic Games. The others were the Pythian Games of Delphi, Isthmian Games at Corinth and the Games at Nemea. All these Greek Games sank into oblivion due to constant war among the states.
Iphitos, the King of Elis, on the advice of a Delphic Oracle, took initiative to restore the Olympic Games, the most important among the four Pan Hellenic Games. He came into an agreement with Cleosthenes, King of Pisa and Lycurgus, law giver and King of Sparta to reinstitute the Games. The agreement gave rise to a unique institution named Truce or 'Ekecheiria' which during the Games times gave the athletes, artists, ordinary pilgrims, spectators etc and their families safe passage to and from their place of origin to the Olympic Games. During this sacred truce the City States refrained from war and conflict. In modern Olympic Games, restored by French idealist and educationist Baron Pierre de Coubertin in 1896, this concept was replicated by the UNO at the request of the IOC to maintain peace during Olympics and ensure that these Games are kept free from politics. In 1992, after the break-up of the Federal Republic, of Yugoslavia, UNO for the first time included sport in the UNSC sanction list. The IOC, to ensure the participation of the athletes of Bosnia and Herzegovina gave provisional recognition of the NOCs of these countries and invited their athletes to participate in the 1992 XXV Bercelona Olympiad. This was done on July 21, 1992 in the 99th IOC Session wherein an appeal was made to all states and international organizations. Then the IOC engaged to negotiate with the UNO. As an aftermath of the negotiation the UNO decided to observe Olympic truce and promote peace and understanding through sport and the Olympic ideal in the 58th General Assembly in 2003 in the presence of 190 UN member states. Afterwards the UNO declared 2005 as the year for sport and physical education as a means to promote education, health, development and peace. In order to achieve these goals the 1st ever International Day of Sport for Development and Peace has been observed by the IOC and its most important constituent, the NOCs.
The NOC of Bangladesh named Bangladesh Olympic Association notwithstanding its financial constraints took a two day programme in observance of this Day associating the NFs (national federations) affiliated with it. Besides, BOA involved students of some schools of the metropolis in its programme to engage the youth in the celebration. The programme included rally wearing T shirts and caps designed and procured for the occasion and holding a seminar on the 7th April in Olympic House on the significance and importance of the Day. It is expected that the celebration of this Day by the Olympic Movement would go a long way in establishing peace, harmony and brotherhood in human society through sport practiced and competed according to the principle of Olympism and its values.
© 2026 - All Rights with The Financial Express
