Jacques Rogge on Sport, Peace, and Human Dignity

One of the fundamental principles of the Olympic Movement is to contribute to building a peaceful and better world through sport, practised without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit. This is essentially why the International Olympic Committee revived the ancient Greek tradition of “Ekecheiria”, the Olympic Truce: using sport as an instrument to foster dialogue for reconciliation and peace, with the support of the United Nations calling on its member states. […] Of course, sport cannot impose peace, but it can contribute to inspiring it! Sport has the power to reach many people across the globe and, in essence, is a language understood by everyone. Sport also fosters understanding between individuals, facilitates dialogue between divergent communities and can contribute to breeding tolerance between nations. […] Our hope is that, through sport and the Olympic values of friendship and respect, we can all make a winning difference and inspire a peaceful society that preserves and nurtures human dignity.