Press Conference on Launch of 2012 ‘Peace and Cooperation School Award’

Launching a school competition intended to create awareness of the links connecting sports, peace and development, representatives of a Spanish non-governmental organization stressed today the importance of transmitting United Nations values to future generations.

“We must help students to realize the other side of the moon, a world without violence, without war, without hunger or discrimination,” Joaquín Antuña, President and founder of Peace and Cooperation, said at a Headquarters press conference where he announced the theme for the 2012 Peace and Cooperation School Award — “Sport as the key for understanding and peace — Everyone united”.  He was accompanied by Belén Álvaro, the non-governmental organization’s representative at the United Nations, and David Kidwell, Youth Ambassador for the affiliated Airline Ambassadors.  Affiliated to the Economic and Social Council through special consultative status, Peace and Cooperation focuses on disarmament, development, human rights, global solidarity and peace education.

Mr. Antuña said the annual award had become increasingly international every year, and the competition was conducted in all six official United Nations languages.  The 2011 edition had attracted more than 1 million teachers and students as participants, in addition to entries from 55 countries.  Its theme was “Peace and Reconciliation”, he added.  The 2011 awards ceremony had taken place in Abuja, Nigeria, and the next one was planned for Jakarta, Indonesia, he said, adding that all competition themes were directly associated with General Assembly resolutions.

Introducing this year’s sports theme, he evoked the outbreak of “joy and unity” in Spain after the national team had won the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, where Nelson Mandela had previously made history at his country’s triumph during the 1995 Rugby World Cup.  Whitney Houston’s rendition of her country’s national anthem at the 1991 Super Bowl had also been an inspiration, he said.  “We all remember these three moments of fraternity,” he added.

“Sport is a universal language,” he continued, recalling the General Assembly’s designation of 2005 as the International Year of Sport and Physical Education.  In the years since, Spanish teams frequently wore the logos of United Nations agencies, he said, noting that Real Madrid was setting up schools in developing countries and providing food aid, while celebrity coaches and players were already getting involved in Peace and Cooperation’s initiative.

Ms. Álvaro stressed the importance of listening in sports practice, which aimed not for victory and reward but for perfect harmony with other team members and “reconciliation of the soul”.  Appealing for the return of the “magic linkages” of well-being, friendship and the other best human values found in sports, as played during childhood, she stressed the particular importance of countering the absurd violence that sometimes erupted among fans.  “We believe that a better world is possible and we believe we can make it happen, by passing values in their purest essence to children,” she said.

Mr. Kidwell displayed posters in the six official United Nations languages and introduced the rules of the competition, outlining the submissions requested from members of four age groupings comprising youths of up to 18 years old — drawings, posters and slogans, murals and comic strips, respectively.  He called on teachers to organize sports events and produce videos and anthems.  There was a Facebook group for the competition, he said, adding that the deadline for submissions was 3 July and the prizes would be awarded in Jakarta on 7 February, 2013.  Other details can be found at www.peaceandcooperation.org.

He said the competition promoted respect, cooperation, friendship, competitiveness, teamwork, participation, sharing, justice, comradeship, physical and intellectual skill, creativity, joy, self-improvement, discipline, fulfilment, recognition, capacity of sacrifice, perseverance, humbleness, self-control, obedience and empathy, among other important values.

Responding to questions, Mr. Antuña said there had been approximately 20,000 entries in 2011, but it was hard to provide exact figures because some countries had sent a selection of the best entries from national competitions.  Mexico alone had submitted 2,000 entries, he noted.

He said Peace and Cooperation had such a miniscule budget that it would not be possible without the assistance of diplomats, noting that he and his colleagues were always running after them with posters.  “Sometimes they try to avoid us, but it’s impossible.”  In fact, the entire campaign would cost some €10,000, with €5,000 coming from Spain’s Foreign Ministry and Real Madrid donating posters.  Noting that he had paid his own way to New York, he thanked volunteers and all those who had donated their time, saying that they all wanted to get teachers and students to fall in love with the United Nations.  “I think the world needs to fall in love with the United Nations,” he said in conclusion.

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For information media • not an official record