Peace through Sport at the 2024 Paris Olympics

Introduction

Since their inception, the Olympic Games have been a symbol of global unity, bringing together athletes from around the world to compete in the spirit of friendship and competition. As the world watches the 2024 Paris Olympics, the focus on promoting peace through sport has never been more relevant. In a world with so much conflict and division, the Olympics serve as a reminder of our shared humanity and the power of sport to bridge cultural and political divides.

Generations For Peace USA (GFP USA) shares this commitment to peace through sport. Founded with the belief that sport can be a catalyst for positive change, GFP USA uses sport to bridge divides, strengthen communities, and build lasting peace. Our mission aligns closely with the Olympic values, and we are proud to be at the forefront of the broader movement to build peace through sport.

Credit: IOC

Generations For Peace and the Olympics

Generations For Peace USA has deep roots in international peacebuilding and the Olympic Movement. We were founded in 2012 by Generations For Peace (GFP), an acclaimed global peacebuilding organization born out of the Jordan Olympic Committee. GFP is the only peace-through-sport organization officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and has a long legacy of partnering with the Olympic Movement to promote shared values of excellence, respect, and friendship through sport. As a tribute to this legacy, our logo colors match those on the five Olympic rings, and our motto is “Pass It On,” which alludes to batons and the Olympic torch relay. Under the leadership of our founder, HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein of Jordan, an Executive Board Member of the IOC, we are committed to using sport as a tool for peacebuilding and fostering community resilience. We even have a former GFP staff member competing in this year’s games! Mo’ath Alkhawaldeh is representing his home country of Jordan in the marathon event in Paris. He currently resides in Washington, DC.

Both GFP and GFP USA engage youth in activities that promote dialogue, understanding, and social cohesion through sport. By harnessing the unifying power of sport, we help communities overcome conflict and create more peaceful, shared futures.

Mo’ath Alkhawaldeh in front of the Eiffel Tower during the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Olympic Athletes as Peace Ambassadors

At the heart of the 2024 Paris Olympics is a powerful message of peace. Hundreds of Olympic athletes from 206 National Olympic Committees and the IOC Refugee Olympic Team came together during a special event to call for peace. These athletes, representing diverse nations and backgrounds, wore scarves and held flags with the message “Give peace a chance.” This simple yet profound statement underscores the role of sport in fostering peace and mutual understanding.

By coming together under the Olympic banner, these athletes exemplify the idea that sport can transcend boundaries and bring people together in pursuit of a common goal. This aligns with our work at GFP USA, where we use sport as a tool to bridge divides, strengthen communities, and build lasting peace.

During the event, IOC President Thomas Bach emphasized the historical role of the Olympics in promoting peace, drawing inspiration from the IOC founder, Pierre de Coubertin. In his speech, Bach described athletes as the “peace ambassadors of our time,” highlighting their ability to model peaceful coexistence and mutual respect on a global stage. Bach encouraged athletes to extend their peace message beyond the Games, urging them to become advocates for peace in their own communities. This call-to-action reflects Generations For Peace USA’s advocacy for youth as peacebuilders and champions of sport for peace. Our programs empower young people to use sport to foster trust and understanding, transform conflicts, and build more resilient communities.

Masomah Ali Zada, a member of the IOC Refugee Olympic Team, also delivered a compelling speech, highlighting the stories of forcibly displaced people and the importance of peace. “We are representing the stories of over 120 million forcibly displaced people across the world,” she said, underscoring the role of the Refugee Olympic Team in uniting people from diverse backgrounds under the Olympic flag. This resonates with our work at GFP USA, where we engage with diverse communities to promote peace and social cohesion.

Olympic Truce

The Olympic Truce draws on ancient Greek traditions where wars were paused to allow safe participation in the Games. This tradition has been revived by the IOC to protect athletes and promote peace, dialogue, and reconciliation. Since 1993, the United Nations General Assembly has supported the Olympic Truce through resolutions every two years, calling on member states to observe the Truce during the Games. Today, the Truce serves as a reminder of the potential for sport to interrupt violence, and foster dialogue, reconciliation, and peace. This message resonates strongly with Generations For Peace USA’s initiatives, where our sport for peace activities create safe spaces for youth to interact and build trust and understanding with one another across conflict divides.

A potent emblem of the Olympic Truce is the Olympic Truce Wall, which was unveiled in the Olympic Village. The unveiling was attended by prominent individuals such as the President of the IOC, the President of the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee, and the IOC Refugee Olympic Team, and the wall represents the principles of harmony, unity, advancement, and inclusivity. The continued support for the Olympic Truce underscores the enduring relevance of sport as a means of promoting peace. At Generations For Peace USA, we draw inspiration from this tradition as we work to build peace through sport, using the principles of dialogue and reconciliation to address conflicts in communities across the United States.

Credit: IOC/Greg Martin

Conclusion

The Olympic Games serve as a significant testament to the power of sport to unite people across cultures and borders. As the world watches the 2024 Paris Olympics, the focus on promoting peace through sport is more important than ever. Generations For Peace USA is proud to be part of this global movement, using sport to build peace and foster resilience in communities. As we continue our work, we are inspired by the Olympic athletes who serve as peace ambassadors and the rich history of the Olympic Truce. Together, we can harness the power of sport to create a more peaceful and united world.

As we look ahead to the LA 2028 and Salt Lake City 2034 Games, we are excited about the opportunities to further our mission of promoting peace through sport. Hosting the Olympics in the United States presents a unique opportunity for Americans to showcase the values of peace and unity on a global stage, and we look forward to contributing to these Games in meaningful ways.