SPORT FOR A CULTU

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OF

PE

AC

E

INTERNATIONALF R I E N D S H I P ENCOUNTER

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HLIG

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ND

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SU

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Dinard • St Malo • France12 to 17 June 2001

CO

NTEN

TS Préface by John Daniel

500 faces with one and the same smile,looking towards friendship

Foreword by Jean Favier

Objectives of the Encounter

Background of the Encounter

Partners and co-organizers

Participants

Location

OpeningArrival

Opening ceremony

Main focal points of the Encounter

Sports

Team sports

Discovery sport

Traditional sports and games

Cultural activities

Debates on sport,peace and non-violence

Special teacher sessions

Cultural visits

Highlights of the Encounter

The Chain of Friendship

The Youth Appeal

Coverage of the Encounter

The Info-Flash

Closing – an emotional moment

Conclusion and follow-up to the Encounter

One year later

THE YOUTH APPEAL

List of participating countries

456

1011

12131516

2020

2021

2223

24

2728

292930

3131

3335

3738

CO

NTEN

TS Préface by John Daniel

500 faces with one and the same smile,looking towards friendship

Foreword by Jean Favier

Objectives of the Encounter

Background of the Encounter

Partners and co-organizers

Participants

Location

OpeningArrival

Opening ceremony

Main focal points of the Encounter

Sports

Team sports

Discovery sport

Traditional sports and games

Cultural activities

Debates on sport,peace and non-violence

Special teacher sessions

Cultural visits

Highlights of the Encounter

The Chain of Friendship

The Youth Appeal

Coverage of the Encounter

The Info-Flash

Closing – an emotional moment

Conclusion and follow-up to the Encounter

One year later

THE YOUTH APPEAL

List of participating countries

456

1011

12131516

2020

2021

2223

24

2728

292930

3131

3335

3738

Creating solidarity, transforming it intofriendship and sharing a common passionfor peace, tolerance and a team spirit bypromoting respect for cultural and regionaldiversity: these were the proclaimed aimsof the “International Friendship Encounter”held on the Emerald Coast of Brittany from12 to 17 June, 2001.

This Encounter brought together 500 youngpeople from nearly 60 countries by meansof a large-scale international mobilization andafforded them the opportunity todemonstrate the contribution of sport to aculture of peace by participating in sportsand cultural activities. Through theseactivities the young participants and theirteachers came to realize the importance ofthe values which are universally sharedthrough physical education and sport andto grasp the true sense of the universalmaxim: mens sana in corpore sano (a healthymind in a healthy body) which is essentialfor the intellectual and physical developmentof young people and of all humankind.

The variety of the sports and culturalactivities made available to the youngpeople revealed the scale of their needsand their expectations, generating animpact and spin-off that far exceeded ourhopes and the targets that were set.

The progress of the “InternationalFriendship Encounters” since 1997 haspaved the way for internationalparticipation by attracting ever increasingand highly encouraging requests, bothfrom the countries that took part and fromthose that have heard about the event. Thisaugurs well for future Encounters.

I had the honour to participate personallyin this Encounter and saw for myself thejoy and enthusiasm of the youngparticipants. I wish you every success forfuture Encounters.

John DanielUNESCO Assistant Director-Generalfor Education

Preface500 faces with oneand the same smile,looking towards friendship

A dauntingchallenge. It was a daunting challenge: bringing 500boys and girls together from 60 countriesand setting the scene for an awakeningof friendship by means of a sportsencounter. That was a very newexperience for UNESCO.

These young people were able toovercome political differences andlinguistic barriers and show thatcompetition is not tantamount to hostility,that to surpass oneself is more importantthan to outmatch others and that toleranceis beneficial to all. They were able todemonstrate that it is just as necessaryto respect other people and freelyaccepted rules in society as it is in sportsactivities, and that trying to understandothers is never a waste of time.

Sport requires discipline and so it alsoreminds people that there are no rightswithout duties, that the duties we acceptguarantee the rights of others.

The French National Commission ispleased to have participated in this joyfulcelebration of friendship. If young peoplecan adopt this virtue with the enthusiasmthat characterizes their youth, we mayhope that the adults they are soon tobecome will understand in turn thathuman rights are not an abstract conceptand that they should be applied at all timesby every individual in social interactions.Human rights are always talked about inthe plural, and that is legitimate. They areindeed diverse and therefore the conceptitself is difficult to grasp. However, it isprecisely because of their diversity thathuman rights should be the constantconcern of all. Nothing would be worsethan to restrict them to a specific area –whether legal or philosophical.

The French National Commission upholdsa view of human rights that cuts acrossthe definitions. It sees human rights asbeing important in themselves ratherthan just for us.

Jean FavierChairperson of the French NationalCommission for UNESCO

Fore

wor

d

4 5

Creating solidarity, transforming it intofriendship and sharing a common passionfor peace, tolerance and a team spirit bypromoting respect for cultural and regionaldiversity: these were the proclaimed aimsof the “International Friendship Encounter”held on the Emerald Coast of Brittany from12 to 17 June, 2001.

This Encounter brought together 500 youngpeople from nearly 60 countries by meansof a large-scale international mobilization andafforded them the opportunity todemonstrate the contribution of sport to aculture of peace by participating in sportsand cultural activities. Through theseactivities the young participants and theirteachers came to realize the importance ofthe values which are universally sharedthrough physical education and sport andto grasp the true sense of the universalmaxim: mens sana in corpore sano (a healthymind in a healthy body) which is essentialfor the intellectual and physical developmentof young people and of all humankind.

The variety of the sports and culturalactivities made available to the youngpeople revealed the scale of their needsand their expectations, generating animpact and spin-off that far exceeded ourhopes and the targets that were set.

The progress of the “InternationalFriendship Encounters” since 1997 haspaved the way for internationalparticipation by attracting ever increasingand highly encouraging requests, bothfrom the countries that took part and fromthose that have heard about the event. Thisaugurs well for future Encounters.

I had the honour to participate personallyin this Encounter and saw for myself thejoy and enthusiasm of the youngparticipants. I wish you every success forfuture Encounters.

John DanielUNESCO Assistant Director-Generalfor Education

Preface500 faces with oneand the same smile,looking towards friendship

A dauntingchallenge. It was a daunting challenge: bringing 500boys and girls together from 60 countriesand setting the scene for an awakeningof friendship by means of a sportsencounter. That was a very newexperience for UNESCO.

These young people were able toovercome political differences andlinguistic barriers and show thatcompetition is not tantamount to hostility,that to surpass oneself is more importantthan to outmatch others and that toleranceis beneficial to all. They were able todemonstrate that it is just as necessaryto respect other people and freelyaccepted rules in society as it is in sportsactivities, and that trying to understandothers is never a waste of time.

Sport requires discipline and so it alsoreminds people that there are no rightswithout duties, that the duties we acceptguarantee the rights of others.

The French National Commission ispleased to have participated in this joyfulcelebration of friendship. If young peoplecan adopt this virtue with the enthusiasmthat characterizes their youth, we mayhope that the adults they are soon tobecome will understand in turn thathuman rights are not an abstract conceptand that they should be applied at all timesby every individual in social interactions.Human rights are always talked about inthe plural, and that is legitimate. They areindeed diverse and therefore the conceptitself is difficult to grasp. However, it isprecisely because of their diversity thathuman rights should be the constantconcern of all. Nothing would be worsethan to restrict them to a specific area –whether legal or philosophical.

The French National Commission upholdsa view of human rights that cuts acrossthe definitions. It sees human rights asbeing important in themselves ratherthan just for us.

Jean FavierChairperson of the French NationalCommission for UNESCO

Fore

wor

d

4 5

We, young people participating inthe UNESCO Associated SchoolsProject Network in sixty countriesfrom all parts of the world met inDinard/Saint-Malo, Ille-et-Vilaine,France, 12-17 June 2001,we are very concerned by:

We want a healthy mind in a healthybody: sport for all, boys and girls.Let’s reinforce solidarity and friendship inall parts of the world!

> The lack of youth awareness of all thepositive dimensions of sports,

> Decreasing youth participation in sportactivities,

> Insufficient sports opportunitiesand facilities for young peopleand especially for girls,

> The lack of physical education andsport infrastructures, as well as lackof commitment to invest in sports,

> The existing gap between rich and poorcountries,

> Increasing violence and the abuse ofdrugs, tobacco, alcohol consumption,

> The disappeareance of traditionalsports and games.

Youth APPEAL

6

We call for urgent action since we,young people, feel that Physical Educationand Sport help young people to:

> Be in a better health both mentaland physical,

> Feel more fulfilled and have moreconfidence in ourselves,

> Help us young people to succeedbetter in our studies,

> Learn to live together with respect torules, self discipline, honesty, cultivatetolerance for cultures, differences andbeliefs,

> Be an active and responsible memberof society, and prevent all kinds ofsocial exclusion,

> Prevent and eliminate violence, racismand prejudices,

> Spread solidarity to deprived peopleand people in difficulty,

> Encourage and enable girls andwomen to have equal opportunities,

> Ensure a culture of peace and realinternational co-operation.

16 June 2001

7

We, young people participating inthe UNESCO Associated SchoolsProject Network in sixty countriesfrom all parts of the world met inDinard/Saint-Malo, Ille-et-Vilaine,France, 12-17 June 2001,we are very concerned by:

We want a healthy mind in a healthybody: sport for all, boys and girls.Let’s reinforce solidarity and friendship inall parts of the world!

> The lack of youth awareness of all thepositive dimensions of sports,

> Decreasing youth participation in sportactivities,

> Insufficient sports opportunitiesand facilities for young peopleand especially for girls,

> The lack of physical education andsport infrastructures, as well as lackof commitment to invest in sports,

> The existing gap between rich and poorcountries,

> Increasing violence and the abuse ofdrugs, tobacco, alcohol consumption,

> The disappeareance of traditionalsports and games.

Youth APPEAL

6

We call for urgent action since we,young people, feel that Physical Educationand Sport help young people to:

> Be in a better health both mentaland physical,

> Feel more fulfilled and have moreconfidence in ourselves,

> Help us young people to succeedbetter in our studies,

> Learn to live together with respect torules, self discipline, honesty, cultivatetolerance for cultures, differences andbeliefs,

> Be an active and responsible memberof society, and prevent all kinds ofsocial exclusion,

> Prevent and eliminate violence, racismand prejudices,

> Spread solidarity to deprived peopleand people in difficulty,

> Encourage and enable girls andwomen to have equal opportunities,

> Ensure a culture of peace and realinternational co-operation.

16 June 2001

7

Consequently, we inviteYouth worldwide to takethe following action:

> Participate maximun in sports,

> Refrain from taking drugs andfrom doping,

> Be responsible because weare the ones building the future,

> Behave in a spirit of goodsportmenship (fairplay, teamspirit),

> Do not get discouraged and do notgive up because you are not yet achampion, because competition is onlyone aspect of sport,

> Get rid of all kinds of prejudices,

> Students should donate time, money,equipment for less fortunate childrenand young people.

We invite Physical Educationand Sport Teachers to:

> Encourage all students to do theirbest knowing that they all have differentcapabilities,

> Explain better to students all positiveaspects of sports,

> Propose to students a wide rangeof sport activities and let them choosewhat they want to do,

> Do not give your students morepressure than they are able to stand,

> Have more mixed sport activities forgirls and boys.

We invite the Media (press,radio, television, Internet) to:

> Cover important eventssuch us our InternationalFrienship Encounter,

> Encourage young peopleto do sports: videoclips,commercials, talkshows,covering youth championships,

> Focus on a wide range of sports notjust the most popular ones,

> Give much more media coverageto female sports.

> Forbid any advertising for tobaccoand alcohol in all parts of the world.

We invite the top Athletes:

> To set a good example and encourageyoung people to take part in sportsby sharing their experienceand explaining to them theadvantages of sports,

> Devote regularly part of their timeto support young people’s sportactivities by visiting sport clubs andpracticing with them regularly,

> Volonteer and share some of theirearnings in order to sustain sportsdevelopment for young people tostruggle against violence

We invite National Authorities,Decision Makers (Ministryof Youth and Sport, Ministry ofNational Education, Ministryof Culture, National OlympicCommittee, etc.) to:

> Pay more attention and give moresupport to events such as theInternational Friendship Encounter,

> Give more training and sports facilitiesto Physical Educationand Sports teachers,

> Mobilize and better co-ordinatethe contributions of Ministries(Youth and Sports, Education, Health,External Relations, Public Works, etc.)to support the development of sportactivities for young people,

> Organize youth exchangesbetween countries to learnmore about their traditionalsports and game

8

We invite the InternationalSports Federations such as theInternational Soccer Federation,the Formula 1, etc:

> Share some of their earnings in order tosustain sports development for youngpeople in support of non-violence onthe fields and in the stadium,

> Zero tolerance for doping,

> Ensure women in high decision makingpositions which are mostly occupiedby men

We propose to the InternationalOlympic Committee:

> Organize olympic sport activities foryoung people between the ages of10-18 as well as for young peoplewith special needs,

> Reinforce support for athletes fromall disciplines in all countries so theycan fully participate on an equal levelin the Olympic Games

We invite UNESCOto support us by:

> Helping organize NationalFriendship Encounters andcontinue to promote sports fora Culture of Peace by buildingthe Friendship Road,

> Being the bridge between youngpeople and decision makers, diffuseour Appeal and seek support forits implementation,

> declaring the 16th of June aninternational sports day for friendshipand solidarity,

> organising every 2 years anInternational FriendshipEncounter,

> increasing its efforts inasking national authoritiesto be more committedand give more supportfor youth and sports,

> mobilizing top athletes tocontinue to co-operate and assistin developing the Friendship Road

We invite the United Nations:

> To be strongly involved indeveloping with UNESCOthe Friendship Road andorganizing other futureencounters.

9

Consequently, we inviteYouth worldwide to takethe following action:

> Participate maximun in sports,

> Refrain from taking drugs andfrom doping,

> Be responsible because weare the ones building the future,

> Behave in a spirit of goodsportmenship (fairplay, teamspirit),

> Do not get discouraged and do notgive up because you are not yet achampion, because competition is onlyone aspect of sport,

> Get rid of all kinds of prejudices,

> Students should donate time, money,equipment for less fortunate childrenand young people.

We invite Physical Educationand Sport Teachers to:

> Encourage all students to do theirbest knowing that they all have differentcapabilities,

> Explain better to students all positiveaspects of sports,

> Propose to students a wide rangeof sport activities and let them choosewhat they want to do,

> Do not give your students morepressure than they are able to stand,

> Have more mixed sport activities forgirls and boys.

We invite the Media (press,radio, television, Internet) to:

> Cover important eventssuch us our InternationalFrienship Encounter,

> Encourage young peopleto do sports: videoclips,commercials, talkshows,covering youth championships,

> Focus on a wide range of sports notjust the most popular ones,

> Give much more media coverageto female sports.

> Forbid any advertising for tobaccoand alcohol in all parts of the world.

We invite the top Athletes:

> To set a good example and encourageyoung people to take part in sportsby sharing their experienceand explaining to them theadvantages of sports,

> Devote regularly part of their timeto support young people’s sportactivities by visiting sport clubs andpracticing with them regularly,

> Volonteer and share some of theirearnings in order to sustain sportsdevelopment for young people tostruggle against violence

We invite National Authorities,Decision Makers (Ministryof Youth and Sport, Ministry ofNational Education, Ministryof Culture, National OlympicCommittee, etc.) to:

> Pay more attention and give moresupport to events such as theInternational Friendship Encounter,

> Give more training and sports facilitiesto Physical Educationand Sports teachers,

> Mobilize and better co-ordinatethe contributions of Ministries(Youth and Sports, Education, Health,External Relations, Public Works, etc.)to support the development of sportactivities for young people,

> Organize youth exchangesbetween countries to learnmore about their traditionalsports and game

8

We invite the InternationalSports Federations such as theInternational Soccer Federation,the Formula 1, etc:

> Share some of their earnings in order tosustain sports development for youngpeople in support of non-violence onthe fields and in the stadium,

> Zero tolerance for doping,

> Ensure women in high decision makingpositions which are mostly occupiedby men

We propose to the InternationalOlympic Committee:

> Organize olympic sport activities foryoung people between the ages of10-18 as well as for young peoplewith special needs,

> Reinforce support for athletes fromall disciplines in all countries so theycan fully participate on an equal levelin the Olympic Games

We invite UNESCOto support us by:

> Helping organize NationalFriendship Encounters andcontinue to promote sports fora Culture of Peace by buildingthe Friendship Road,

> Being the bridge between youngpeople and decision makers, diffuseour Appeal and seek support forits implementation,

> declaring the 16th of June aninternational sports day for friendshipand solidarity,

> organising every 2 years anInternational FriendshipEncounter,

> increasing its efforts inasking national authoritiesto be more committedand give more supportfor youth and sports,

> mobilizing top athletes tocontinue to co-operate and assistin developing the Friendship Road

We invite the United Nations:

> To be strongly involved indeveloping with UNESCOthe Friendship Road andorganizing other futureencounters.

9

The Encounter sought to mobilize educators and hundreds of young people from around the world,in particular from ASPnet (Associated Schools Project Network) schools, to participate, in a spirit offellowship, in a programme promoting “Sport for a Culture of Peace”.

The International Friendship Encounterthus aimed to reinforce the ethical andhumanistic dimensions of physicaleducation and sport by fosteringcooperation and intercultural dialogue, aswell as promoting health, well-being andequal opportunities. Beyond the actualevent, this international encounter wasmeant to encourage the developmentof a general outlook based on respectfor human dignity and diversity in orderto help young people and teachers ofphysical education and sport builda world of friendship.

Sport for a culture of peace: theInternational Friendship Encounter aimedto provide young people with a forum forjoint expression and reflection on thebasis of experiences in sports, cultural,artistic, economic and social activities.Participating young people and teachersfrom the five regions of the world cameto the Encounter to uphold this spirit offriendship and mutual respect amongtheir peers.

Besides the sports and cultural activitiesthe Encounter created an opportunityto share experiences and to organizedebates between the young participantsand experts. The Encounter ended withthe drafting of a Youth Appeal forFriendship aimed at decision-makersand young people worldwide.

The Appeal’s main objective was toestablish and communicate the viewthat young people have of physicaleducation and sport today as well astheir hopes, expectations, proposalsand commitments for the future.

1. Objectives of the Encounter

From 1997 to 1999, a series ofsuccessful National Friendship Encountersfor youth on the themes of friendship,sport, culture and peace was organizedunder the Physical Education and SportProgramme in several Member States(Benin, Burkina Faso, Cuba, Guyana,Madagascar, Nicaragua, Peru, Togo,Uruguay and Uzbekistan) in the frameworkof the UNESCO Associated SchoolsProject Network (ASPnet).These encounters mobilized many youngpeople, who thus actively demonstratedtheir determination to promote a spirit offair play and social harmony through sport.As citizens of a world in which they wouldsoon be full players, they expressed thewish to see UNESCO organize similarencounters at the international level.This Encounter was also a follow-up tothe World Conference on Education andSport for a Culture of Peace that tookplace at UNESCO in July 1999, and tothe first World Parliament of Young People,held in October 1999 at the FrenchNational Assembly and at UNESCO inParis, which led to the proclamation of theYouth Manifesto for the Twenty-FirstCentury. The latter indeed recommendedthe organization of “international sportingevents where each team would becomposed of young people fromdifferent countries”.Furthermore, the Third InternationalConference of Ministers and SeniorOfficials responsible for PhysicalEducation and Sport (MINEPS III),Punta del Este, Uruguay, 30 Novemberto 3 December 1999, examined astrategy and recommendations aimed atpromoting the development of physicaleducation and sport internationally and atnational level.

The Ministers insisted on the importanceof physical education and sport (PES)as part of the process of continuingeducation and of social and humandevelopment in general. They alsostressed the potential of PES as afacilitator of social cohesion and mutualtolerance.The resulting recommendations were astrong source of inspiration for the firstInternational Friendship Encounter, inparticular the suggestion that “ASPSchools (Associated Schools Project)be included in the implementation ofobjectives and activities in the field of sportsince they are one of the worldwidenetworks through which the objectivesand goals of the culture of peace arepromoted”.Lastly, the first International FriendshipEncounter took place within the frameworkof the United Nations Year of DialogueAmong Civilizations and of the InternationalYear of Mobilization against Racism, RacialDiscrimination, Xenophobia and RelatedIntolerance (2001) as well as of the UnitedNations International Decade for a Cultureof Peace and Non-Violence for theChildren of the World (2001-2010). 2

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10 11

The Encounter sought to mobilize educators and hundreds of young people from around the world,in particular from ASPnet (Associated Schools Project Network) schools, to participate, in a spirit offellowship, in a programme promoting “Sport for a Culture of Peace”.

The International Friendship Encounterthus aimed to reinforce the ethical andhumanistic dimensions of physicaleducation and sport by fosteringcooperation and intercultural dialogue, aswell as promoting health, well-being andequal opportunities. Beyond the actualevent, this international encounter wasmeant to encourage the developmentof a general outlook based on respectfor human dignity and diversity in orderto help young people and teachers ofphysical education and sport builda world of friendship.

Sport for a culture of peace: theInternational Friendship Encounter aimedto provide young people with a forum forjoint expression and reflection on thebasis of experiences in sports, cultural,artistic, economic and social activities.Participating young people and teachersfrom the five regions of the world cameto the Encounter to uphold this spirit offriendship and mutual respect amongtheir peers.

Besides the sports and cultural activitiesthe Encounter created an opportunityto share experiences and to organizedebates between the young participantsand experts. The Encounter ended withthe drafting of a Youth Appeal forFriendship aimed at decision-makersand young people worldwide.

The Appeal’s main objective was toestablish and communicate the viewthat young people have of physicaleducation and sport today as well astheir hopes, expectations, proposalsand commitments for the future.

1. Objectives of the Encounter

From 1997 to 1999, a series ofsuccessful National Friendship Encountersfor youth on the themes of friendship,sport, culture and peace was organizedunder the Physical Education and SportProgramme in several Member States(Benin, Burkina Faso, Cuba, Guyana,Madagascar, Nicaragua, Peru, Togo,Uruguay and Uzbekistan) in the frameworkof the UNESCO Associated SchoolsProject Network (ASPnet).These encounters mobilized many youngpeople, who thus actively demonstratedtheir determination to promote a spirit offair play and social harmony through sport.As citizens of a world in which they wouldsoon be full players, they expressed thewish to see UNESCO organize similarencounters at the international level.This Encounter was also a follow-up tothe World Conference on Education andSport for a Culture of Peace that tookplace at UNESCO in July 1999, and tothe first World Parliament of Young People,held in October 1999 at the FrenchNational Assembly and at UNESCO inParis, which led to the proclamation of theYouth Manifesto for the Twenty-FirstCentury. The latter indeed recommendedthe organization of “international sportingevents where each team would becomposed of young people fromdifferent countries”.Furthermore, the Third InternationalConference of Ministers and SeniorOfficials responsible for PhysicalEducation and Sport (MINEPS III),Punta del Este, Uruguay, 30 Novemberto 3 December 1999, examined astrategy and recommendations aimed atpromoting the development of physicaleducation and sport internationally and atnational level.

The Ministers insisted on the importanceof physical education and sport (PES)as part of the process of continuingeducation and of social and humandevelopment in general. They alsostressed the potential of PES as afacilitator of social cohesion and mutualtolerance.The resulting recommendations were astrong source of inspiration for the firstInternational Friendship Encounter, inparticular the suggestion that “ASPSchools (Associated Schools Project)be included in the implementation ofobjectives and activities in the field of sportsince they are one of the worldwidenetworks through which the objectivesand goals of the culture of peace arepromoted”.Lastly, the first International FriendshipEncounter took place within the frameworkof the United Nations Year of DialogueAmong Civilizations and of the InternationalYear of Mobilization against Racism, RacialDiscrimination, Xenophobia and RelatedIntolerance (2001) as well as of the UnitedNations International Decade for a Cultureof Peace and Non-Violence for theChildren of the World (2001-2010). 2

. B

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round o

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10 11

3. P

artn

ers

and c

o-o

rgan

izers

The International Friendship Encounterwas the result of a remarkable combinedeffort by partners who contributed theirdiverse skills and abilities to ensure themeeting’s success.

ASPnet (Associated Schools ProjectNetwork) and the Section for PreventiveEducation and Sport of the Division forthe Promotion of Quality Education UnitedNations Educational, Scientific andCultural Organization (UNESCO) wereco-organizers of this first InternationalFriendship Encounter.

According to its Constitution, UNESCO’sprimary objective is to “contribute topeace and security by promotingcollaboration among the nations througheducation, science and culture in orderto further universal respect for justice,for the rule of law and for the humanrights and fundamental freedoms whichare affirmed for the peoples of the world,without distinction of race, sex,language or religion, by the Charterof the United Nations”.

The French National Commission forUNESCO, whose task is to promote andcarry out UNESCO objectives andprogrammes in France, was the othermain co-organizer of the event.

The French Ministry of Youth and Sportsand its local institutions, including theCentre régional de l’education populaireet des sports (Regional Centre for Sportsand Popular Education) in Dinard and theRegional Direction for Youth and Sports,contributed to the success of the eventby providing the technical and logisticalmeans needed for the activities and or the accommodation and supervisionof the young participants.

The local authorities (City of Dinard,City of Saint-Malo, Regional Counciland General Council of Ile-et-Vilaine)made their infrastructure and facilitiesavailable for the meeting.

The French National Olympic and SportsCommittee participated in the selection ofsubjects to be discussed and mobilizedsome fifty experts to lead the debateswith the young participants.A number of private companies andassociations also offered their skillsand services and thus contributedto the success of the event.

4. Participants The mobilization effort was by all standards successful, with the participation of some500 young people from 55 countries worldwide, whose selection aimed at ensuringthe best possible geographical balance.Each country was asked to send a group of 4 to 6 students between the agesof 14 and 17 (with both genders equally represented) and an educator – preferablya physical education and sport teacher.

Priority was given to students and educators representing one or several schoolsfrom the Associated Schools Project Network (ASPnet) in their country and meetinga number of criteria established by the organizers, such as being in good health,having some experience in sports, and taking an active part in the life of their schooland in ASPnet activities.

In addition, the young participants had to be able to present a group performancein the field of either culture (dance, music, singing, etc.) or sport, and have a teamspirit and the ability to live in a group and express themselves in public. Anotherrequirement was open-mindedness and a genuine desire to meet young peoplefrom other countries and cultures.

The educators had to be active in the life of their school and within ASPnet, and haveboth a keen interest in international cooperation and the ability to exercise responsibilityover their group of young people throughout the Encounter.

As teachers, they were also required to “cultivate” a team spirit, a sense of sharingand solidarity, and an openness to others, and to have the ability to propose innovativeideas on the significance of physical education and sport in the educational process.A final requirement for both students and educators was the ability to speak either Frenchor English fluently in order to ensure that a genuine intercultural dialogue would develop.

12 13

3. P

artn

ers

and c

o-o

rgan

izers

The International Friendship Encounterwas the result of a remarkable combinedeffort by partners who contributed theirdiverse skills and abilities to ensure themeeting’s success.

ASPnet (Associated Schools ProjectNetwork) and the Section for PreventiveEducation and Sport of the Division forthe Promotion of Quality Education UnitedNations Educational, Scientific andCultural Organization (UNESCO) wereco-organizers of this first InternationalFriendship Encounter.

According to its Constitution, UNESCO’sprimary objective is to “contribute topeace and security by promotingcollaboration among the nations througheducation, science and culture in orderto further universal respect for justice,for the rule of law and for the humanrights and fundamental freedoms whichare affirmed for the peoples of the world,without distinction of race, sex,language or religion, by the Charterof the United Nations”.

The French National Commission forUNESCO, whose task is to promote andcarry out UNESCO objectives andprogrammes in France, was the othermain co-organizer of the event.

The French Ministry of Youth and Sportsand its local institutions, including theCentre régional de l’education populaireet des sports (Regional Centre for Sportsand Popular Education) in Dinard and theRegional Direction for Youth and Sports,contributed to the success of the eventby providing the technical and logisticalmeans needed for the activities and or the accommodation and supervisionof the young participants.

The local authorities (City of Dinard,City of Saint-Malo, Regional Counciland General Council of Ile-et-Vilaine)made their infrastructure and facilitiesavailable for the meeting.

The French National Olympic and SportsCommittee participated in the selection ofsubjects to be discussed and mobilizedsome fifty experts to lead the debateswith the young participants.A number of private companies andassociations also offered their skillsand services and thus contributedto the success of the event.

4. Participants The mobilization effort was by all standards successful, with the participation of some500 young people from 55 countries worldwide, whose selection aimed at ensuringthe best possible geographical balance.Each country was asked to send a group of 4 to 6 students between the agesof 14 and 17 (with both genders equally represented) and an educator – preferablya physical education and sport teacher.

Priority was given to students and educators representing one or several schoolsfrom the Associated Schools Project Network (ASPnet) in their country and meetinga number of criteria established by the organizers, such as being in good health,having some experience in sports, and taking an active part in the life of their schooland in ASPnet activities.

In addition, the young participants had to be able to present a group performancein the field of either culture (dance, music, singing, etc.) or sport, and have a teamspirit and the ability to live in a group and express themselves in public. Anotherrequirement was open-mindedness and a genuine desire to meet young peoplefrom other countries and cultures.

The educators had to be active in the life of their school and within ASPnet, and haveboth a keen interest in international cooperation and the ability to exercise responsibilityover their group of young people throughout the Encounter.

As teachers, they were also required to “cultivate” a team spirit, a sense of sharingand solidarity, and an openness to others, and to have the ability to propose innovativeideas on the significance of physical education and sport in the educational process.A final requirement for both students and educators was the ability to speak either Frenchor English fluently in order to ensure that a genuine intercultural dialogue would develop.

12 13

Dis

cuss

ion s

ubje

cts Before the Encounter:

As a preliminary to the Encounter the national ASPnet coordinators had been asked toorganize discussions between students and educators for the purpose of reviewing thesubjects that would be developed during the Encounter. This was done to ensure the bestpreparation for an intercultural dialogue about sport for a culture of peace and to facilitatethe drafting of the Appeal. The subjects to be discussed were mentioned in theconfirmation documents that were sent to participating countries:

Physical education,sport and society> Physical education and sport as a means to combat violence: in society, in

sporting events, in the practice of sports;

> Physical education and sport as a means to combat all forms of exclusion;

> The significance of physical education and sport in the promotion of the spiritof fair play, respect for rules, discipline and the team spirit;

> Physical education and sport as a means to bring together young people fromdifferent cultures, countries and continents in a spirit of mutual respect,intercultural dialogue and friendship;

> Equal access opportunities for both genders in physical education and sport;

> The importance of physical education and sport in personal health and inphysical, psychological and emotional well-being;

> Preventive education for a sound practice of sports as a means to combatdrug abuse, tobacco and alcohol consumption and to cope with the issue ofdoping;

> Practice of traditional games and sports in the framework of interculturalexchanges;

> Sport for all and at all stages of life;

> Proposals aimed at improving and developing physical education and sport.

The participants, after careful selection, were thus asked, before the Encounter, to summarizetheir thoughts and proposals for young people and decision-makers worldwide. A numberof texts and suggestions were sent for review to UNESCO and to the French NationalCommission for UNESCO. This facilitated the preparation of debates on and the exchangeof views and experiences during the Encounter regarding the ethical dimension of sport.

The Emerald CoastThe Emerald Coast takes its lovely poetic name from the shimmeringgreen sea along the Atlantic coast of Brittany. With its jagged coastline,it boasts many resorts and spas, as well as beautiful mansionsand ship-owners’ houses, reminders of the area’s maritime past.

The department ofIle-et-Vilaine on the EmeraldCoast is endowed withan exceptional culturaland natural heritage.Because of its maritimehistory the Coasthas acquired a traditionof opennessto the world and of trade

and cooperation. This made the area an ideal venue for an international gatheringsuch as the Encounter.

> Dinard, the garden city on the shore with its lavish architecture, is the site of manyinternational cultural and sporting events through which it demonstrates the growinginterest it takes in the wider world.

> Saint-Malo, the “pirate” city with its legendary ramparts,marinas, opulent commercial harbour and long-standing traditionof openness to other peoples, was another ideal setting for anencounter of young people from all four corners of the globewho will help to shape tomorrow’s world.These two beautiful nautical towns with their impressive landscapesand first-rate sports facilities thus joined forces to contributeto the success of the Encounter, a gathering that combinedsport and culture.

5. Location

1415

Dis

cuss

ion s

ubje

cts Before the Encounter:

As a preliminary to the Encounter the national ASPnet coordinators had been asked toorganize discussions between students and educators for the purpose of reviewing thesubjects that would be developed during the Encounter. This was done to ensure the bestpreparation for an intercultural dialogue about sport for a culture of peace and to facilitatethe drafting of the Appeal. The subjects to be discussed were mentioned in theconfirmation documents that were sent to participating countries:

Physical education,sport and society> Physical education and sport as a means to combat violence: in society, in

sporting events, in the practice of sports;

> Physical education and sport as a means to combat all forms of exclusion;

> The significance of physical education and sport in the promotion of the spiritof fair play, respect for rules, discipline and the team spirit;

> Physical education and sport as a means to bring together young people fromdifferent cultures, countries and continents in a spirit of mutual respect,intercultural dialogue and friendship;

> Equal access opportunities for both genders in physical education and sport;

> The importance of physical education and sport in personal health and inphysical, psychological and emotional well-being;

> Preventive education for a sound practice of sports as a means to combatdrug abuse, tobacco and alcohol consumption and to cope with the issue ofdoping;

> Practice of traditional games and sports in the framework of interculturalexchanges;

> Sport for all and at all stages of life;

> Proposals aimed at improving and developing physical education and sport.

The participants, after careful selection, were thus asked, before the Encounter, to summarizetheir thoughts and proposals for young people and decision-makers worldwide. A numberof texts and suggestions were sent for review to UNESCO and to the French NationalCommission for UNESCO. This facilitated the preparation of debates on and the exchangeof views and experiences during the Encounter regarding the ethical dimension of sport.

The Emerald CoastThe Emerald Coast takes its lovely poetic name from the shimmeringgreen sea along the Atlantic coast of Brittany. With its jagged coastline,it boasts many resorts and spas, as well as beautiful mansionsand ship-owners’ houses, reminders of the area’s maritime past.

The department ofIle-et-Vilaine on the EmeraldCoast is endowed withan exceptional culturaland natural heritage.Because of its maritimehistory the Coasthas acquired a traditionof opennessto the world and of trade

and cooperation. This made the area an ideal venue for an international gatheringsuch as the Encounter.

> Dinard, the garden city on the shore with its lavish architecture, is the site of manyinternational cultural and sporting events through which it demonstrates the growinginterest it takes in the wider world.

> Saint-Malo, the “pirate” city with its legendary ramparts,marinas, opulent commercial harbour and long-standing traditionof openness to other peoples, was another ideal setting for anencounter of young people from all four corners of the globewho will help to shape tomorrow’s world.These two beautiful nautical towns with their impressive landscapesand first-rate sports facilities thus joined forces to contributeto the success of the Encounter, a gathering that combinedsport and culture.

5. Location

1415

6. O

penin

g

Sport for a Culture of Peace.How?The delegations from 55 countries were greeted at the airport or at the railway stationand taken to their lodgings near Paris, where they were able to rest and enjoy somerefreshments while waiting for the rest of the participants.

In Paris, several guided tours were organized for the participants, most of whomwere coming to France for the first time. Among other places they were taken to seethe Stade de France, the famous stadium that was built for the World Football Cup in1998, and the Eiffel Tower – by night. They were also given the opportunity to travelon the Parisian underground railway, the Métropolitain, whose centennial wascelebrated that year.

On 12 June, they travelled to Brittany, the venue for the International FriendshipEncounter, on a “friendship train” especially chartered to transport the delegations.

By then the participants had had the time to get to know one another.At Saint-Malo railway station they were met by the local organizers and Vents et Marées(“Winds and Tides”), a local group of singers specializing in traditional sea shanties.The young people were then taken to their respective lodgings in Dinard and Saint-Malo.

The Encounter rapidly became a mass gathering of young people from ASPnet schoolsand countries worldwide. When they donned their traditional clothes, Brittany suddenlytook on the colours of the rainbow. Everyone attending the opening ceremonyon 13 June 2001 at the gates of the city of Saint-Malo, on the Esplanade Lamennaisin front of the ramparts, thus had the opportunity to discover some customs and featuresof different cultures during the musical and costumed dance performances.

Arrival

Opening ceremony:a multicultural musical event

Delegations: Haiti, Qatar, Republic of Korea, France and Bulgaria

Delegations: Viet Nam, New Zealand, Sweden and Poland

16 17

6. O

penin

g

Sport for a Culture of Peace.How?The delegations from 55 countries were greeted at the airport or at the railway stationand taken to their lodgings near Paris, where they were able to rest and enjoy somerefreshments while waiting for the rest of the participants.

In Paris, several guided tours were organized for the participants, most of whomwere coming to France for the first time. Among other places they were taken to seethe Stade de France, the famous stadium that was built for the World Football Cup in1998, and the Eiffel Tower – by night. They were also given the opportunity to travelon the Parisian underground railway, the Métropolitain, whose centennial wascelebrated that year.

On 12 June, they travelled to Brittany, the venue for the International FriendshipEncounter, on a “friendship train” especially chartered to transport the delegations.

By then the participants had had the time to get to know one another.At Saint-Malo railway station they were met by the local organizers and Vents et Marées(“Winds and Tides”), a local group of singers specializing in traditional sea shanties.The young people were then taken to their respective lodgings in Dinard and Saint-Malo.

The Encounter rapidly became a mass gathering of young people from ASPnet schoolsand countries worldwide. When they donned their traditional clothes, Brittany suddenlytook on the colours of the rainbow. Everyone attending the opening ceremonyon 13 June 2001 at the gates of the city of Saint-Malo, on the Esplanade Lamennaisin front of the ramparts, thus had the opportunity to discover some customs and featuresof different cultures during the musical and costumed dance performances.

Arrival

Opening ceremony:a multicultural musical event

Delegations: Haiti, Qatar, Republic of Korea, France and Bulgaria

Delegations: Viet Nam, New Zealand, Sweden and Poland

16 17

Welcome speeches also saluted the opening of the International FriendshipEncounter, Sport for a Culture of Peace. The first speaker was Mr Fouligné,Deputy Mayor of Saint-Malo, who on behalf of the mayor greeted “all theseyoung people gathered here as ambassadors of friendship and peace. […]May the light of hope shine throughout these five days of friendship”.

Adolf Ogi, Special Adviser to the Secretary-General of the United Nations,Kofi Annan, on Sport for Development and Peace and a former head of the Swissgovernment, stated that “the connection between peace and sport is self-evident!Sport facilitates contacts between individuals or between groups, as is the case here[…] where many different languages are spoken [and] the most diverse cultures areable to intermingle”. Mr Ogi handed over to the young people attending a set ofgame balls donated by Adidas.

Jean Favier, a historian and Chairperson of the French National Commission forUNESCO, said how pleased the Commission was to share responsibility for theorganization of this great celebration of friendship. He also expressed the followingwish: “If young people can adopt this virtue with the enthusiasm that characterizestheir youth, let us hope that the adults they are soon to become will understand inturn that human rights are not an abstract concept and that they should constantlybe applied by every individual in social interactions”.

Hamid Oussedik, Chief of the Section for Preventive Education and Sport,pointed out that “despite the sense of rivalry that is inherent in competition, sport canand should be a factor of unity and fulfilment, a means of achieving understandingand solidarity on an international level, an irreplaceable instrument of universality”.It is in this context that UNESCO strives to boost the efforts of all those who act toenhance sport’s humanistic mission and values and to make sport an integral partof the process of continuing education as well as a tool of fulfilment and friendship,an instrument of peace and development, because, “if sport has a meaning, it canonly be found by turning towards humanism”.

A selection of top-level athletes then addressed the young people, whowere eager to hear the view of sport held by people who practise it at thehighest level:

Bernard Lama (France), World Football Champion from “Les Bleus”, the Frenchnational team, argued in favour of multicultural sports teams and their contributionto the fight against racism.

Susie O’Neill (Australia), twice Olympic Butterfly Swimming Champion in Atlantaand Sidney, made an enthusiastic plea on behalf of universal access to sport, tellingthe young audience “anybody can be a champion like me”.

Regla Torres (Cuba), a volleyball champion who was voted“Best Athlete in the World”, spoke of the need to raise young people’sawareness about the power of sport in the balance of peace.

All the athletes emphasized the close connection between sport and friendship andstrongly encouraged young people to cultivate this precious tie.

After the speeches, participants representing different continents performed a series ofmusical and dance numbers – first the students from Norway, then the students fromUruguay, who danced an impressive tango. Haiti and Costa Rica displayed their brilliantcolours and the Rwanda delegation dazzled the audience with a dance celebrating theirjoy at participating.

The performers even managed to draw some of the attending personalities intothe dance while the athletes joined in with enthusiasm, on the stage at the footof the Saint-Malo ramparts. Lastly, the students from New Zealand presented wo Maori dances in traditional costume.

The Encounter thus began in a joyful musical atmosphere.

The next day, the young participants began to engage in a wide variety of sportsand physical, cultural and intellectual activities. Educators also had regular meetingsaimed at discussing physical education and sport and at making proposalsfor the improvement of sports education, to better serve the ideal of a cultureof peace and non-violence.

1918

Welcome speeches also saluted the opening of the International FriendshipEncounter, Sport for a Culture of Peace. The first speaker was Mr Fouligné,Deputy Mayor of Saint-Malo, who on behalf of the mayor greeted “all theseyoung people gathered here as ambassadors of friendship and peace. […]May the light of hope shine throughout these five days of friendship”.

Adolf Ogi, Special Adviser to the Secretary-General of the United Nations,Kofi Annan, on Sport for Development and Peace and a former head of the Swissgovernment, stated that “the connection between peace and sport is self-evident!Sport facilitates contacts between individuals or between groups, as is the case here[…] where many different languages are spoken [and] the most diverse cultures areable to intermingle”. Mr Ogi handed over to the young people attending a set ofgame balls donated by Adidas.

Jean Favier, a historian and Chairperson of the French National Commission forUNESCO, said how pleased the Commission was to share responsibility for theorganization of this great celebration of friendship. He also expressed the followingwish: “If young people can adopt this virtue with the enthusiasm that characterizestheir youth, let us hope that the adults they are soon to become will understand inturn that human rights are not an abstract concept and that they should constantlybe applied by every individual in social interactions”.

Hamid Oussedik, Chief of the Section for Preventive Education and Sport,pointed out that “despite the sense of rivalry that is inherent in competition, sport canand should be a factor of unity and fulfilment, a means of achieving understandingand solidarity on an international level, an irreplaceable instrument of universality”.It is in this context that UNESCO strives to boost the efforts of all those who act toenhance sport’s humanistic mission and values and to make sport an integral partof the process of continuing education as well as a tool of fulfilment and friendship,an instrument of peace and development, because, “if sport has a meaning, it canonly be found by turning towards humanism”.

A selection of top-level athletes then addressed the young people, whowere eager to hear the view of sport held by people who practise it at thehighest level:

Bernard Lama (France), World Football Champion from “Les Bleus”, the Frenchnational team, argued in favour of multicultural sports teams and their contributionto the fight against racism.

Susie O’Neill (Australia), twice Olympic Butterfly Swimming Champion in Atlantaand Sidney, made an enthusiastic plea on behalf of universal access to sport, tellingthe young audience “anybody can be a champion like me”.

Regla Torres (Cuba), a volleyball champion who was voted“Best Athlete in the World”, spoke of the need to raise young people’sawareness about the power of sport in the balance of peace.

All the athletes emphasized the close connection between sport and friendship andstrongly encouraged young people to cultivate this precious tie.

After the speeches, participants representing different continents performed a series ofmusical and dance numbers – first the students from Norway, then the students fromUruguay, who danced an impressive tango. Haiti and Costa Rica displayed their brilliantcolours and the Rwanda delegation dazzled the audience with a dance celebrating theirjoy at participating.

The performers even managed to draw some of the attending personalities intothe dance while the athletes joined in with enthusiasm, on the stage at the footof the Saint-Malo ramparts. Lastly, the students from New Zealand presented wo Maori dances in traditional costume.

The Encounter thus began in a joyful musical atmosphere.

The next day, the young participants began to engage in a wide variety of sportsand physical, cultural and intellectual activities. Educators also had regular meetingsaimed at discussing physical education and sport and at making proposalsfor the improvement of sports education, to better serve the ideal of a cultureof peace and non-violence.

1918

7. Main focal points of the Enc ounter

Sport as a Vehicle for Peace and DialogueAmong Young People and Cultures:In order to involve the young participants as much as possible in discussion and action to reinforcethe role of sport as a facilitator of peace and non-violence, three different types of activities were includedin the programme of the Encounter: sports, cultural and intellectual activities.

Sports A. TEAM SPORTSMarville Stadium, Saint-Malo

> Football> Rugby> Field hockey with mixed

multicultural teams

1. Objectives:To live and play together in a spirit of fairplay and respect for the rules, interculturaldialogue, access to sports for girls, etc.The idea was to encourage all participantsto achieve a feeling of unity whiledeveloping the will to cooperate infriendship.

2. Unique features:The teams were mixed and consistedof young people from different countries.All the participants were thus giventhe opportunity to either practiseor discover the three team sports:INITIATION AND GAME

B. DISCOVERY SPORTSPlage de l’écluse, Dinard

> Rowing> Kayak> Golf> Fencing> Circus> Sand ball

1. Objectives:To introduce the young people to variousnew physical activities, bringing out thediversity of these discoveries by meansof an educational approach and actualpractice.

2. Unique features:The participants formed small teamsand engaged in a variety of games thatrequire skilfulness, solidarity, creativityand initiative.

Each challenge called for physicalstrength, flexibility, agility or agood sense of coordination.

Thus the youngpeople not onlyenjoyed themselvesbut also realized thevalue of traditionalgames which areoften easyto practise andusually requirelittle equipment.

2120

7. Main focal points of the Enc ounter

Sport as a Vehicle for Peace and DialogueAmong Young People and Cultures:In order to involve the young participants as much as possible in discussion and action to reinforcethe role of sport as a facilitator of peace and non-violence, three different types of activities were includedin the programme of the Encounter: sports, cultural and intellectual activities.

Sports A. TEAM SPORTSMarville Stadium, Saint-Malo

> Football> Rugby> Field hockey with mixed

multicultural teams

1. Objectives:To live and play together in a spirit of fairplay and respect for the rules, interculturaldialogue, access to sports for girls, etc.The idea was to encourage all participantsto achieve a feeling of unity whiledeveloping the will to cooperate infriendship.

2. Unique features:The teams were mixed and consistedof young people from different countries.All the participants were thus giventhe opportunity to either practiseor discover the three team sports:INITIATION AND GAME

B. DISCOVERY SPORTSPlage de l’écluse, Dinard

> Rowing> Kayak> Golf> Fencing> Circus> Sand ball

1. Objectives:To introduce the young people to variousnew physical activities, bringing out thediversity of these discoveries by meansof an educational approach and actualpractice.

2. Unique features:The participants formed small teamsand engaged in a variety of games thatrequire skilfulness, solidarity, creativityand initiative.

Each challenge called for physicalstrength, flexibility, agility or agood sense of coordination.

Thus the youngpeople not onlyenjoyed themselvesbut also realized thevalue of traditionalgames which areoften easyto practise andusually requirelittle equipment.

2120

C. TRADITIONAL SPORTSAND GAMESParc des Marettes, Dinard

1. Objectives:To strengthen values, cultural identityand intercultural dialogue through a betterunderstanding and appreciation oftraditional sports and games and of therecreational heritage of the countriesrepresented and the host country.

2. Unique features:The participants formed small teamsand engaged in a variety of games thatrequire skilfulness, solidarity, creativityand initiative. Each challenge called forphysical strength, flexibility, agility or agood sense of coordination.Thus the young people not only enjoyedthemselves but also realized the valueof traditional games which are ofteneasy to practise and usually requirelittle equipment.

Cultural activities

La Briantais, Saint-Malo

> Drums and African dance> Traditional music and dance from Brittany> Hip Hop music and dance> Discovery of traditional dishes from Brittany:

cooking and tasting.

1. Objectives:Participation in play activities aimed at acquiring a better understandingand appreciation of other cultures, thus promoting a spirit of internationalcooperation and tolerance. Opportunity for the young people to share amoment of joy and friendship.

2. Unique features:Under the guidance of experts, the young people selected a creativeworkshop that helped them participate in an intercultural dialogue throughdance, music and even local food traditions

2322

C. TRADITIONAL SPORTSAND GAMESParc des Marettes, Dinard

1. Objectives:To strengthen values, cultural identityand intercultural dialogue through a betterunderstanding and appreciation oftraditional sports and games and of therecreational heritage of the countriesrepresented and the host country.

2. Unique features:The participants formed small teamsand engaged in a variety of games thatrequire skilfulness, solidarity, creativityand initiative. Each challenge called forphysical strength, flexibility, agility or agood sense of coordination.Thus the young people not only enjoyedthemselves but also realized the valueof traditional games which are ofteneasy to practise and usually requirelittle equipment.

Cultural activities

La Briantais, Saint-Malo

> Drums and African dance> Traditional music and dance from Brittany> Hip Hop music and dance> Discovery of traditional dishes from Brittany:

cooking and tasting.

1. Objectives:Participation in play activities aimed at acquiring a better understandingand appreciation of other cultures, thus promoting a spirit of internationalcooperation and tolerance. Opportunity for the young people to share amoment of joy and friendship.

2. Unique features:Under the guidance of experts, the young people selected a creativeworkshop that helped them participate in an intercultural dialogue throughdance, music and even local food traditions

2322

A crucial component of the Encounter, the debates were organized between participating young people,top-level athletes (including Béatrice Hesse, French Olympic Swimming Champion, Disabled Sports, andSébastien Flute, French Olympic Archery Champion) and sports experts (mainly members of the FrenchNational Olympic and Sports Committees). They focused on the ethical and humanistic dimension in thepractice of sports.

Debates on sport, peaceand non-violence

2001 was the United Nations Year ofDialogue Among Civilizations and theInternational Year of Mobilization againstRacism, Racial Discrimination,Xenophobia and Related Intolerance,and this also served as a source ofinspiration for the debates.

Before the Encounter the participantshad prepared contributions on thethemes in their home countries.The thoughts and comments theybrought to the debates were used asa springboard for the discussions:

> Prevention, sports and health

> Equal access opportunitiesfor both genders in thepractice of sports

> Non-violence and fair play,violence, racism and doping –disdain for victory at any cost

> Integration through sport

These four current topics of greatsignificance were discussed bythe participants in groups of approximately30 under the guidance of an expertin the relevant field. All debates resultedin the drafting of recommendationsaimed at improving physical educationand sport, and constituted an importantstep in the subsequent draftingof the “Youth Appeal” by a delegationof 11 participants from five continentschosen by the students.

Sébastien Flute,Béatrice Hesse

A. PREVENTION, SPORTAND HEALTHThis section focuses on the medicaland social aspects of sport:

> The sports that people practiseshould be appropriate to their age,build and personal abilities andlimitations, in the interests ofphysical well-being and pleasure.

> In the practice of sports it isessential to respect the body andabide by the rules that definerelations with one’s peers, in orderto achieve harmony with oneselfand others.

> A healthy and balanced dietmust be maintained to facilitateself-expression through sports.

Well-being, respect, good health, apersonal heritage worth protecting -these words were recurrent in thedebates. The discussions naturallyfocused on the need for qualityphysical education in the frameworkof a healthy regimen that facilitatessocial integration. A necessarycondition for this goal to beachieved is the cooperation ofcoaches and teachers from alldisciplines in warning youngathletes about the dangers ofsubstances which can harm theirbodies (such as alcohol, tobaccoand drugs).

Because it has the ability toovercome the language barrier,sport was thus recognized by allparticipants as a crucial instrumentof communication and dialogue.

B. EQUAL ACCESSOPPORTUNITIES FOR BOTHGENDERS IN THE PRACTICEOF SPORTSThough both genders are equallyentitled to practise sports, therecan be differences between boysand girls:

> Natural build and exertioncapacity.

> School organization and facilitiesavailable for athletes of all levels.

> Some local, national or regionalcustoms do not allow women tohave a leading role (as trainers)and to practise sports that requirethem to uncover their body inpublic.

> The influence of the media, whichmainly cover the so-called malesports, on the image of sportspractice. “Male” competitions aremore common and are deemedmore profitable by sponsors.

The public at large must becomemore aware of the need to give girlsand women better access to thepractice of sports. In this respect,the mixed, multicultural teamsformed during the Encounter wereviewed by all participants as settinga standard, and this innovative stepwas an eye-opener.

Sigrid Niedermayer,Associated SchoolsProject Network 2524

A crucial component of the Encounter, the debates were organized between participating young people,top-level athletes (including Béatrice Hesse, French Olympic Swimming Champion, Disabled Sports, andSébastien Flute, French Olympic Archery Champion) and sports experts (mainly members of the FrenchNational Olympic and Sports Committees). They focused on the ethical and humanistic dimension in thepractice of sports.

Debates on sport, peaceand non-violence

2001 was the United Nations Year ofDialogue Among Civilizations and theInternational Year of Mobilization againstRacism, Racial Discrimination,Xenophobia and Related Intolerance,and this also served as a source ofinspiration for the debates.

Before the Encounter the participantshad prepared contributions on thethemes in their home countries.The thoughts and comments theybrought to the debates were used asa springboard for the discussions:

> Prevention, sports and health

> Equal access opportunitiesfor both genders in thepractice of sports

> Non-violence and fair play,violence, racism and doping –disdain for victory at any cost

> Integration through sport

These four current topics of greatsignificance were discussed bythe participants in groups of approximately30 under the guidance of an expertin the relevant field. All debates resultedin the drafting of recommendationsaimed at improving physical educationand sport, and constituted an importantstep in the subsequent draftingof the “Youth Appeal” by a delegationof 11 participants from five continentschosen by the students.

Sébastien Flute,Béatrice Hesse

A. PREVENTION, SPORTAND HEALTHThis section focuses on the medicaland social aspects of sport:

> The sports that people practiseshould be appropriate to their age,build and personal abilities andlimitations, in the interests ofphysical well-being and pleasure.

> In the practice of sports it isessential to respect the body andabide by the rules that definerelations with one’s peers, in orderto achieve harmony with oneselfand others.

> A healthy and balanced dietmust be maintained to facilitateself-expression through sports.

Well-being, respect, good health, apersonal heritage worth protecting -these words were recurrent in thedebates. The discussions naturallyfocused on the need for qualityphysical education in the frameworkof a healthy regimen that facilitatessocial integration. A necessarycondition for this goal to beachieved is the cooperation ofcoaches and teachers from alldisciplines in warning youngathletes about the dangers ofsubstances which can harm theirbodies (such as alcohol, tobaccoand drugs).

Because it has the ability toovercome the language barrier,sport was thus recognized by allparticipants as a crucial instrumentof communication and dialogue.

B. EQUAL ACCESSOPPORTUNITIES FOR BOTHGENDERS IN THE PRACTICEOF SPORTSThough both genders are equallyentitled to practise sports, therecan be differences between boysand girls:

> Natural build and exertioncapacity.

> School organization and facilitiesavailable for athletes of all levels.

> Some local, national or regionalcustoms do not allow women tohave a leading role (as trainers)and to practise sports that requirethem to uncover their body inpublic.

> The influence of the media, whichmainly cover the so-called malesports, on the image of sportspractice. “Male” competitions aremore common and are deemedmore profitable by sponsors.

The public at large must becomemore aware of the need to give girlsand women better access to thepractice of sports. In this respect,the mixed, multicultural teamsformed during the Encounter wereviewed by all participants as settinga standard, and this innovative stepwas an eye-opener.

Sigrid Niedermayer,Associated SchoolsProject Network 2524

C. NON-VIOLENCE AND FAIRPLAY, VIOLENCE, RACISM ANDDOPING – DISDAIN FOR VICTORYAT ANY COSTIn this section the recommendationsdealt with the need to use sports asa genuine tool of communicationand education overcoming allcultural, linguistic, religious andethnic barriers.

Multicultural sports teams are astriking illustration of this idealbecause despite the differencesbetween the players all teammembers have the same goal incommon and are able to pursueit in a spirit of harmony andsolidarity.

> Sports must be practised witha positive outlook and an openattitude toward others.

> The practice of sports as a hobbymust be encouraged.

> The goal is not to win at any costbut to do one’s best, whateverone’s physical abilities.

In the organized practice of sports,the spirit of fair play must berecognized and rewarded in resultsassessment. When absent it mustbe promoted via information andeducation programmes thatemphasize the key message:“what matters is to participate”.

It was thus recognized that sportis a decisive facilitator of goodcitizenship and of contact anddialogue between individuals,and that it is a prime vehicle forthe promotion of peace,justice and tolerance providedthat sports rules are understood,accepted and applied byrespecting others.

D. INTEGRATIONTHROUGH SPORTDuring this debate, the participantsreviewed national situations andpointed out the fundamentalharmony between general andphysical education, which togethercontribute to a balanced educationsystem that answers at oncethe needs of the mind andof the body.

The various activities and debatesorganized during the Encounterwere a concrete illustrationof that harmony, and they alsodemonstrated the power ofintegration contained in friendlygroup encounters that targeta single objective.

All agreed that athletes should actas role models for young peopleand strive to promote throughfirst-hand accounts the ethicalvalues and benefits of sports.

During this debate the participantsalso worked in subgroups oncreating educational projectsfor the integration of young peoplein society through sport.The projects brought out the desirefor genuine collaboration betweenteachers, sports professionals andprominent athletes to help throughsport with the integration of youngpeople in difficulty:

> in institutions containinginfrastructure and equipmentsupplied by sports companiesand which house and raiseunderprivileged children whoare regularly visited by prominentathletes.

> through international friendshipencounters between countrieswith different economic levelsto promote the practiceof inexpensive sports.

Four teacher sessions were organized to allow educators to exchange their ideas and practiceconcerning the improvement of physical education and sport.

The participants were mainly physical education teachers. Some language teachers and school headsalso attended. They all enjoyed the multicultural working groups and had productive debates in English,French and/or Spanish. The groups all agreed to express their observations and suggestionsin the form of recommendations.

Special teacher sessions

> improve training for physical educationand sport teachers;

> view physical education as afundamental right and an importantfactor in the physical and mental healthof young people;

> give physical education a genuineplace in the education system and inthe curriculum; broaden its status andscope to include traditional sportsand games, as these curricula andmethods are outdated and ill-adaptedand the training for educators is pooror non-existent in some countries;

> promote traditional sports and gamesto reinforce young people’s identity andvalues and compensate for the lack offunds, infrastructure and equipment;

> supply more adequate means forphysical education, make thenecessary equipment and infrastructureavailable to the broad community;

> (for educators) teach the valuesattached to sport while stimulatingstudents’ interest and enthusiasm andencouraging positive attitudes. Somecountries bemoan the lack of interest insport among their young people, andthe growing appeal of television,computer and video-game screens,whose effect is to isolate young usersand keep them inside the house.These countries recommend theestablishment of a fair and balancedset of guidelines to create anequilibrium between modern needsand core educational needs;

> the practice of sports is an importantfactor in personality development and ithelps young people recognize the valueof mutual respect and the notion oflimits. It also enhances sociability andplays a role in the building of moralcharacter through group activities.In concrete terms, the practice ofsports teaches young people torespect others, including adversaries,to recognize defeat and victory,to apply the rules and the principlesbehind the rules – in summary,it is the apprenticeship of democracyand good citizenship;

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C. NON-VIOLENCE AND FAIRPLAY, VIOLENCE, RACISM ANDDOPING – DISDAIN FOR VICTORYAT ANY COSTIn this section the recommendationsdealt with the need to use sports asa genuine tool of communicationand education overcoming allcultural, linguistic, religious andethnic barriers.

Multicultural sports teams are astriking illustration of this idealbecause despite the differencesbetween the players all teammembers have the same goal incommon and are able to pursueit in a spirit of harmony andsolidarity.

> Sports must be practised witha positive outlook and an openattitude toward others.

> The practice of sports as a hobbymust be encouraged.

> The goal is not to win at any costbut to do one’s best, whateverone’s physical abilities.

In the organized practice of sports,the spirit of fair play must berecognized and rewarded in resultsassessment. When absent it mustbe promoted via information andeducation programmes thatemphasize the key message:“what matters is to participate”.

It was thus recognized that sportis a decisive facilitator of goodcitizenship and of contact anddialogue between individuals,and that it is a prime vehicle forthe promotion of peace,justice and tolerance providedthat sports rules are understood,accepted and applied byrespecting others.

D. INTEGRATIONTHROUGH SPORTDuring this debate, the participantsreviewed national situations andpointed out the fundamentalharmony between general andphysical education, which togethercontribute to a balanced educationsystem that answers at oncethe needs of the mind andof the body.

The various activities and debatesorganized during the Encounterwere a concrete illustrationof that harmony, and they alsodemonstrated the power ofintegration contained in friendlygroup encounters that targeta single objective.

All agreed that athletes should actas role models for young peopleand strive to promote throughfirst-hand accounts the ethicalvalues and benefits of sports.

During this debate the participantsalso worked in subgroups oncreating educational projectsfor the integration of young peoplein society through sport.The projects brought out the desirefor genuine collaboration betweenteachers, sports professionals andprominent athletes to help throughsport with the integration of youngpeople in difficulty:

> in institutions containinginfrastructure and equipmentsupplied by sports companiesand which house and raiseunderprivileged children whoare regularly visited by prominentathletes.

> through international friendshipencounters between countrieswith different economic levelsto promote the practiceof inexpensive sports.

Four teacher sessions were organized to allow educators to exchange their ideas and practiceconcerning the improvement of physical education and sport.

The participants were mainly physical education teachers. Some language teachers and school headsalso attended. They all enjoyed the multicultural working groups and had productive debates in English,French and/or Spanish. The groups all agreed to express their observations and suggestionsin the form of recommendations.

Special teacher sessions

> improve training for physical educationand sport teachers;

> view physical education as afundamental right and an importantfactor in the physical and mental healthof young people;

> give physical education a genuineplace in the education system and inthe curriculum; broaden its status andscope to include traditional sportsand games, as these curricula andmethods are outdated and ill-adaptedand the training for educators is pooror non-existent in some countries;

> promote traditional sports and gamesto reinforce young people’s identity andvalues and compensate for the lack offunds, infrastructure and equipment;

> supply more adequate means forphysical education, make thenecessary equipment and infrastructureavailable to the broad community;

> (for educators) teach the valuesattached to sport while stimulatingstudents’ interest and enthusiasm andencouraging positive attitudes. Somecountries bemoan the lack of interest insport among their young people, andthe growing appeal of television,computer and video-game screens,whose effect is to isolate young usersand keep them inside the house.These countries recommend theestablishment of a fair and balancedset of guidelines to create anequilibrium between modern needsand core educational needs;

> the practice of sports is an importantfactor in personality development and ithelps young people recognize the valueof mutual respect and the notion oflimits. It also enhances sociability andplays a role in the building of moralcharacter through group activities.In concrete terms, the practice ofsports teaches young people torespect others, including adversaries,to recognize defeat and victory,to apply the rules and the principlesbehind the rules – in summary,it is the apprenticeship of democracyand good citizenship;

2726

> the integration of disabled youngpeople in schools and physicaleducation classes would benefitthe entire social group;

> equal access for both genders is anecessity though the circumstances ofphysical education may differ from onecountry to another and cultural traditionsand attitudes may have variousconsequences on the practice ofsports; success will be achieved only ifthe teaching is adapted to the particularcultural, social and traditional context ofeach country;

> increased opportunities for meetingsbetween top-level and physically

challenged athletes (ex: throughparticipation in Paralympic Games) canhave a considerable impact in terms ofrole models;

> a different evaluation procedure shouldbe introduced and promoted whichwould reward participation, cooperationand fair play instead of solely focusingon physical performance;

> exchanges of experience betweencountries should be encouraged; inparticular, ASPnet should be asked toorganize more encounters andexchange programmes, such as twinschools and mutual assistance projectsbetween schools

The participants in the Encounter were given a tour of two of the most prominent cultural sitesin the French heritage: the Saint-Malo ramparts and Mont Saint-Michel, which has been on the UNESCOWorld Heritage List since 1979. This visit provided a glimpse of the natural, historical and architecturalheritage of the region and of the country, France, which hosted this first International Friendship Encounter.

“On the final day all the participants in the Encounter formed a human chain across the bridge thatconnects Saint-Malo and Dinard. This too was an awesome experience. We had all been given differentcoloured tee shirts and despite the rain, it was a wonderful colourful sight seeing so many young peopleholding hands across the bridge. If only achieving world peace could be so simple and so much fun!”Megan Lourie, teacher in charge of the New Zealand delegation.

Cultural visits The Chain of Friendship

The “Wonder of the West”,a gothic-style Benedictine abbeydedicated to the archangel Saint Michael,and the village that sprung up behind itswalls stand on a small rocky island,on a vast expanse of fine sand regularlyflooded by powerful tides.The construction of the abbey in thisdifficult site, between the eleventhand the sixteenth centuries, was atechnical and artistic tour de forcewhich sustained the young participants’interest during the visit.

8.Highlights of the Encounter

Teenagers from across the world andfrom across Brittany holding hands in ahuman chain of solidarity and friendshipon the Rance River dam – that was howthe Chain of Friendship appeared on themorning of Saturday, 16 June 2001.The dam between Dinard and Saint-Malosuddenly became a special place,a symbol of union and internationalcooperation.

The participants in the Encounter hadbeen hiking in two separate groups. Therain had not dampened their enthusiasmand they met on the bridge, coming fromDinard and from Saint-Malo. There theywere joined by the organizers, athletesand other attending personalities and,together, they sang songs of friendshipfilled with joy and hope.

This was a very intense moment whichlived up to expectations. After a week ofsharing, the young participants proudlyshowed everyone that the peoples of theworld can agree and live together inharmony and mutual respect. The sunmade a much appreciated appearance tosalute the finale of this striking initiative.

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> the integration of disabled youngpeople in schools and physicaleducation classes would benefitthe entire social group;

> equal access for both genders is anecessity though the circumstances ofphysical education may differ from onecountry to another and cultural traditionsand attitudes may have variousconsequences on the practice ofsports; success will be achieved only ifthe teaching is adapted to the particularcultural, social and traditional context ofeach country;

> increased opportunities for meetingsbetween top-level and physically

challenged athletes (ex: throughparticipation in Paralympic Games) canhave a considerable impact in terms ofrole models;

> a different evaluation procedure shouldbe introduced and promoted whichwould reward participation, cooperationand fair play instead of solely focusingon physical performance;

> exchanges of experience betweencountries should be encouraged; inparticular, ASPnet should be asked toorganize more encounters andexchange programmes, such as twinschools and mutual assistance projectsbetween schools

The participants in the Encounter were given a tour of two of the most prominent cultural sitesin the French heritage: the Saint-Malo ramparts and Mont Saint-Michel, which has been on the UNESCOWorld Heritage List since 1979. This visit provided a glimpse of the natural, historical and architecturalheritage of the region and of the country, France, which hosted this first International Friendship Encounter.

“On the final day all the participants in the Encounter formed a human chain across the bridge thatconnects Saint-Malo and Dinard. This too was an awesome experience. We had all been given differentcoloured tee shirts and despite the rain, it was a wonderful colourful sight seeing so many young peopleholding hands across the bridge. If only achieving world peace could be so simple and so much fun!”Megan Lourie, teacher in charge of the New Zealand delegation.

Cultural visits The Chain of Friendship

The “Wonder of the West”,a gothic-style Benedictine abbeydedicated to the archangel Saint Michael,and the village that sprung up behind itswalls stand on a small rocky island,on a vast expanse of fine sand regularlyflooded by powerful tides.The construction of the abbey in thisdifficult site, between the eleventhand the sixteenth centuries, was atechnical and artistic tour de forcewhich sustained the young participants’interest during the visit.

8.Highlights of the Encounter

Teenagers from across the world andfrom across Brittany holding hands in ahuman chain of solidarity and friendshipon the Rance River dam – that was howthe Chain of Friendship appeared on themorning of Saturday, 16 June 2001.The dam between Dinard and Saint-Malosuddenly became a special place,a symbol of union and internationalcooperation.

The participants in the Encounter hadbeen hiking in two separate groups. Therain had not dampened their enthusiasmand they met on the bridge, coming fromDinard and from Saint-Malo. There theywere joined by the organizers, athletesand other attending personalities and,together, they sang songs of friendshipfilled with joy and hope.

This was a very intense moment whichlived up to expectations. After a week ofsharing, the young participants proudlyshowed everyone that the peoples of theworld can agree and live together inharmony and mutual respect. The sunmade a much appreciated appearance tosalute the finale of this striking initiative.

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The Youth Appeal

Eleven students representing the five regionsof the world were selected by the youngparticipants to form a drafting committee.After holding several meetings thecommittee produced the “Youth Appeal”which addresses young people across theworld as well as decision-makers, athletesand international organizations.

> Ahmed Fouad Ahmed AlKindi(United Arab Emirates)

> Charlène Massolin(France)

> Davy Songré(Burkina Faso)

> Hanne Paulsen(Norway)

> Kim Thi Nguyen(Viet Nam)

> Meokgo Mashishi(South Africa)

> Milda Petraityte(Lithuania)

> Nadège Lyndjake(Togo)

> Renzo Tucat Ginesetti(Uruguay)

> Sabah Semati(France)

> Youngjun Kim(Republic of Korea)

The appeal was written in English andFrench, the two official languages of theEncounter, under the guidance of UNESCOrepresentatives and of David Enault,a journalist from Agence France Presse.It contains recommendations aimed atimproving the quality of sport practiceand of physical education.

It is an appeal to the world from all thestudents who participated in the InternationalFriendship Encounter. The membersof the drafting committee speakon their behalf, reporting the contentsof the week’s debates and discussions.

The “Youth Appeal” is directed at youngpeople, physical education teachers,decision-makers and national andinternational authorities. It carries a messageof peace, solidarity and internationalcooperation promoting Sport for a Cultureof Peace. It emphasizes the educationalvalue of sport and its significant rolein the process of peace, non-violenceand integration for young people in today’smulticultural society.

The Info-Flash

A newsletter in English and French,Info-Flash, covering developmentsand highlights, was produced dailyby a drafting committee organizedwith the cooperation of journalistsand photographers. Info-flash wasdistributed to participants every evening,providing an opportunity to view a briefsummary of the day’s events withcomments and photosand the programme for the next day.

The participants were also givena CD-ROM of photos of the week’sevents – competitions, debatesand discussions on sport,its educational value and contributionto a culture of peace.

All who attended the Encounteragreed at the end of this most productiveweek that universal access to a balancedquality education in optimal conditionswas of paramount importance

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The Youth Appeal

Eleven students representing the five regionsof the world were selected by the youngparticipants to form a drafting committee.After holding several meetings thecommittee produced the “Youth Appeal”which addresses young people across theworld as well as decision-makers, athletesand international organizations.

> Ahmed Fouad Ahmed AlKindi(United Arab Emirates)

> Charlène Massolin(France)

> Davy Songré(Burkina Faso)

> Hanne Paulsen(Norway)

> Kim Thi Nguyen(Viet Nam)

> Meokgo Mashishi(South Africa)

> Milda Petraityte(Lithuania)

> Nadège Lyndjake(Togo)

> Renzo Tucat Ginesetti(Uruguay)

> Sabah Semati(France)

> Youngjun Kim(Republic of Korea)

The appeal was written in English andFrench, the two official languages of theEncounter, under the guidance of UNESCOrepresentatives and of David Enault,a journalist from Agence France Presse.It contains recommendations aimed atimproving the quality of sport practiceand of physical education.

It is an appeal to the world from all thestudents who participated in the InternationalFriendship Encounter. The membersof the drafting committee speakon their behalf, reporting the contentsof the week’s debates and discussions.

The “Youth Appeal” is directed at youngpeople, physical education teachers,decision-makers and national andinternational authorities. It carries a messageof peace, solidarity and internationalcooperation promoting Sport for a Cultureof Peace. It emphasizes the educationalvalue of sport and its significant rolein the process of peace, non-violenceand integration for young people in today’smulticultural society.

The Info-Flash

A newsletter in English and French,Info-Flash, covering developmentsand highlights, was produced dailyby a drafting committee organizedwith the cooperation of journalistsand photographers. Info-flash wasdistributed to participants every evening,providing an opportunity to view a briefsummary of the day’s events withcomments and photosand the programme for the next day.

The participants were also givena CD-ROM of photos of the week’sevents – competitions, debatesand discussions on sport,its educational value and contributionto a culture of peace.

All who attended the Encounteragreed at the end of this most productiveweek that universal access to a balancedquality education in optimal conditionswas of paramount importance

3130

On Saturday, 16 June 2001, participants and organizers gathered for one last multicultural celebration atthe Centre Equestre du Val Porée in Dinard. Like the Encounter itself, this was an intense moment aimedat symbolically bringing together all of Humankind

10.Closing - An emotional moment

Marius Mallet, the Mayor of Dinard,declaring the official closing of the firstInternational Friendship Encounter,planted the symbolic Tree of Friendshipwith the assistance of the local authoritiesand the representatives of world youth.

John Daniel, UNESCO AssistantDirector-General for Education,representing Mr Koïchiro Matsuura,Director-General of UNESCO,observed in summing upthis international event that“everyone now sees clearly thatthe education system must give sportan appropriate place to strike a balanceand strengthen the links betweenphysical activity and the other strandsof education”.

Ms Sonia Mendietade Badaroux, Chairpersonof the Executive Boardof UNESCO

Mr Jean Favier,Chairperson of the FrenchNational Commissionfor UNESCO

Mr John Daniel,UNESCO AssistantDirector-Generalfor Education

Mr Marius Mallet,Mayor of Dinard

He then introduced the Youth Appeal,which was read out aloud in Englishand French to all participantsand attending public figures by

> Kim Thi Nguyen: from Viet Nam,representing Asia,

> Charlène Massolin: from France,representing Europe,

> Davy Songré: from Burkina Faso,representing Afrique,

> Renzo Tucat Ginesetti:from Uruguay, representingLatin America

> Ahmed Fouad Ahmed Al Kindi,from the United Arab Emirates,representing the Arab States.

As was the case throughoutthe Encounter, the importanceof intercultural dialogue was emphasized.As the celebration continued,Bulgaria, Republic of Korea,Uzbekistan, South Africa, Romania,Martinique, Nicaragua and Rwandapresented facets of their cultureon stage through music,dance and/or sports displays.

33

On Saturday, 16 June 2001, participants and organizers gathered for one last multicultural celebration atthe Centre Equestre du Val Porée in Dinard. Like the Encounter itself, this was an intense moment aimedat symbolically bringing together all of Humankind

10.Closing - An emotional moment

Marius Mallet, the Mayor of Dinard,declaring the official closing of the firstInternational Friendship Encounter,planted the symbolic Tree of Friendshipwith the assistance of the local authoritiesand the representatives of world youth.

John Daniel, UNESCO AssistantDirector-General for Education,representing Mr Koïchiro Matsuura,Director-General of UNESCO,observed in summing upthis international event that“everyone now sees clearly thatthe education system must give sportan appropriate place to strike a balanceand strengthen the links betweenphysical activity and the other strandsof education”.

Ms Sonia Mendietade Badaroux, Chairpersonof the Executive Boardof UNESCO

Mr Jean Favier,Chairperson of the FrenchNational Commissionfor UNESCO

Mr John Daniel,UNESCO AssistantDirector-Generalfor Education

Mr Marius Mallet,Mayor of Dinard

He then introduced the Youth Appeal,which was read out aloud in Englishand French to all participantsand attending public figures by

> Kim Thi Nguyen: from Viet Nam,representing Asia,

> Charlène Massolin: from France,representing Europe,

> Davy Songré: from Burkina Faso,representing Afrique,

> Renzo Tucat Ginesetti:from Uruguay, representingLatin America

> Ahmed Fouad Ahmed Al Kindi,from the United Arab Emirates,representing the Arab States.

As was the case throughoutthe Encounter, the importanceof intercultural dialogue was emphasized.As the celebration continued,Bulgaria, Republic of Korea,Uzbekistan, South Africa, Romania,Martinique, Nicaragua and Rwandapresented facets of their cultureon stage through music,dance and/or sports displays.

33

A “Participation Medal” was offered by UNESCO to each student and teacher who had taken partin all the activities in a spirit of fair play, openness to others, mutual respect and solidarity. Each delegationalso received a “Friendship Cup” from John Daniel, and a laurel branch, the Olympic symbol,was presented to all the teachers as a group.

After the official speeches, music concluded the event. Tony Irvine performed John Lennon’s song Imagine –a perfect choice for the occasion (“Imagine … a brotherhood of men … all the people sharingall the world …” Then Chico Bouchikhi, the musician and singer who founded the French group“The Gipsy Kings” sang heart-warming peace songs with his nephew Pachai.

After the meal shared beside the CentreEquestre, participants and organizerswatched a gigantic fireworks displayfrom the main lawn – a finale that madeall eyes glitter and rejoiced all hearts.

This event was covered by the localmedia, which conveyed to those whodid not attend the emotion andmessages generated by the firstInternational Friendship Encounter.Coverage of the entire week had beenprovided by a team from Ouest France,the local newspaper, and a UNESCOaudiovisual team headed byMr Oudatchine, whose story on theEncounter was broadcast on CNN.This was a stimulating example offriendship and solidarity that went wellbeyond the limits of sports encounters.

On 17 June 2001, young people fromacross the world hugged for the last timeon the Paris-bound “Friendship Train”before returning to their faraway homecountries at the end of an unforgettableweek full of symbolism. The messageof peace and friendship had brokenthrough, and it will remain in the memoryof many. Gilles, a participant fromSwitzerland, went so far as to say:“This Encounter has changed my life”.

These young people are bearersof hope. They will build the world oftomorrow on the foundation of theprinciples they have absorbed froma rich and balanced education,one that promotes an awakeningof the mind and body throughthe values of humanism.

In this respect, the first InternationalFriendship Encounter provided a verymeaningful and concrete illustrationof what international solidarity meansin the context of promoting educationfor a culture of peace, especially throughphysical education and sport.

The Encounter’s short-term objectivewas the mass mobilization of youngpeople in support of sport and physicaleducation for a culture of peace. It seemsthat this objective was reached. The weekof exchanges through sports and debateson the educational value of sportwas extremely productive.

This extraordinary Encounter was anopportunity to initiate an interculturaldialogue of solidarity. As such, it wasa strong contribution to the UnitedNations Year of Dialogue AmongCivilizations and to the International Yearof Mobilization against Racism,Racial Discrimination, Xenophobiaand Related Intolerance.It must indeed be kept in mind,as the young participants themselvespointed out, that no one is born a racistbut that people become racists,and that one of the main causesof racism is ignorance.

“During this world meeting, the youngparticipants have seen more than theycould immediately grasp and they havelearned more during these few days thanit will ever be possible to teach them atschool” – Megan Lourie, physicaleducation teacher from New Zealand.

In the longer term, the FriendshipCup presented by UNESCO to eachdelegation will connect with the symbolof the “Road of Friendship”, which willstart at the site of the Encounter andstretch across the world through eachparticipating country with the assistanceof the UNESCO Associated SchoolsProject Network (ASPnet).

To underscore the importance of thiscelebration of the ethical values of sport,a delegation of five participants wasselected at the end of the Encounterto convey its message containedin the Youth Appeal at the World ScholarAthlete Games at the University of RhodeIsland in the United States between22 June and 1 July 2001.

These games were organized by theInstitute for International Sport andbrought together some 2.000 youngparticipants from 151 countries.The encounter was extremely productiveand focused on sports, artistic activitiesand debates on sports ethics, peace andhealth. Among the event’s highlights werea visit to United Nations Headquarters inNew York and memorable opening andclosing ceremonies.C

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A “Participation Medal” was offered by UNESCO to each student and teacher who had taken partin all the activities in a spirit of fair play, openness to others, mutual respect and solidarity. Each delegationalso received a “Friendship Cup” from John Daniel, and a laurel branch, the Olympic symbol,was presented to all the teachers as a group.

After the official speeches, music concluded the event. Tony Irvine performed John Lennon’s song Imagine –a perfect choice for the occasion (“Imagine … a brotherhood of men … all the people sharingall the world …” Then Chico Bouchikhi, the musician and singer who founded the French group“The Gipsy Kings” sang heart-warming peace songs with his nephew Pachai.

After the meal shared beside the CentreEquestre, participants and organizerswatched a gigantic fireworks displayfrom the main lawn – a finale that madeall eyes glitter and rejoiced all hearts.

This event was covered by the localmedia, which conveyed to those whodid not attend the emotion andmessages generated by the firstInternational Friendship Encounter.Coverage of the entire week had beenprovided by a team from Ouest France,the local newspaper, and a UNESCOaudiovisual team headed byMr Oudatchine, whose story on theEncounter was broadcast on CNN.This was a stimulating example offriendship and solidarity that went wellbeyond the limits of sports encounters.

On 17 June 2001, young people fromacross the world hugged for the last timeon the Paris-bound “Friendship Train”before returning to their faraway homecountries at the end of an unforgettableweek full of symbolism. The messageof peace and friendship had brokenthrough, and it will remain in the memoryof many. Gilles, a participant fromSwitzerland, went so far as to say:“This Encounter has changed my life”.

These young people are bearersof hope. They will build the world oftomorrow on the foundation of theprinciples they have absorbed froma rich and balanced education,one that promotes an awakeningof the mind and body throughthe values of humanism.

In this respect, the first InternationalFriendship Encounter provided a verymeaningful and concrete illustrationof what international solidarity meansin the context of promoting educationfor a culture of peace, especially throughphysical education and sport.

The Encounter’s short-term objectivewas the mass mobilization of youngpeople in support of sport and physicaleducation for a culture of peace. It seemsthat this objective was reached. The weekof exchanges through sports and debateson the educational value of sportwas extremely productive.

This extraordinary Encounter was anopportunity to initiate an interculturaldialogue of solidarity. As such, it wasa strong contribution to the UnitedNations Year of Dialogue AmongCivilizations and to the International Yearof Mobilization against Racism,Racial Discrimination, Xenophobiaand Related Intolerance.It must indeed be kept in mind,as the young participants themselvespointed out, that no one is born a racistbut that people become racists,and that one of the main causesof racism is ignorance.

“During this world meeting, the youngparticipants have seen more than theycould immediately grasp and they havelearned more during these few days thanit will ever be possible to teach them atschool” – Megan Lourie, physicaleducation teacher from New Zealand.

In the longer term, the FriendshipCup presented by UNESCO to eachdelegation will connect with the symbolof the “Road of Friendship”, which willstart at the site of the Encounter andstretch across the world through eachparticipating country with the assistanceof the UNESCO Associated SchoolsProject Network (ASPnet).

To underscore the importance of thiscelebration of the ethical values of sport,a delegation of five participants wasselected at the end of the Encounterto convey its message containedin the Youth Appeal at the World ScholarAthlete Games at the University of RhodeIsland in the United States between22 June and 1 July 2001.

These games were organized by theInstitute for International Sport andbrought together some 2.000 youngparticipants from 151 countries.The encounter was extremely productiveand focused on sports, artistic activitiesand debates on sports ethics, peace andhealth. Among the event’s highlights werea visit to United Nations Headquarters inNew York and memorable opening andclosing ceremonies.C

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“Physical education is not an end in itself.It is at once a means of self-fulfilment, an instrumentof education and emancipation and a methodof socialization and integration”.

Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO

The “Road of Friendship” was thusopened with the closing of the firstInternational Friendship Encounter inDinard and Saint-Malo. The “Road” isintended to raise awareness and mobilizeyoung people around the world aboutphysical education and sport for a cultureof peace. It will publicize the YouthAppeal and act to apply it, and it willencourage the organization of local,national and regional friendshipencounters. UNESCO will also organizeregular International Encounters (onceevery two years) to ensure thecontinuation of the dialogue andintercultural exchange that have beenestablished as recommended in theYouth Appeal.

The “Road of Friendship” is a genuineinternational campaign whose progresswill be charted in a Road Diary. The Diarywill facilitate the development ofinstructional aids applying the principlesand recommendations that have comeout of the various encounters in supportof better physical education for all as avehicle for UNESCO’s ideals.

Emphasis will also be placed on “sportand health”, especially in the area ofpreventive education concerningthe fight against AIDS. Ju

ne 2

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« I am writing to you on behalf of all of my friends from The Réunion Delegation,who were invited one year ago to attend the International Friendship Encounter.I am writing to you to thank you for having invited me to take part in an unforgettableexperience which gave us new motivations for our future and to share our friendshipbeyond the superficial barriers of “races”.

This trip gave us the opportunity to incorporate in our daily life little things that completelyopened us to the wider world instead of closing ourselves up, in our small world. Suchawareness building develops on several fronts including linguistics. The simplest fact towant to learn better foreign languages becomes much more important because we realizesuddenly that they can be a daily tool (especially for corresponding and one shouldnot believe that “the others will learn French”.

Also and after the “cultural interaction” in which we took part for more than six days,one discovers a “thirst” for culture, one feels a real and strong will to know about the lifeof others. And finally, we open up to the outside world especially through information.Obviously, five days are not enough to get to know 500 young people but even if wedo not remain in contact with them, we try to follow what is happening in their countries.And if sometimes we rejoice, just knowing that all is well for one or for the other, one alsofeels unfortunately bad, sad and even afraid when we learn about difficult situations,for example in Argentina…

I do not always understand what was able to bring us so close together, I would even say“to unite” us because we are more than just pen pals, maybe the fact that we became“a human chain” (a very good symbol I believe because it was a very strong highlightof our stay), or to be brought together for a good cause and to have understood that wewere all young people with the same hopes, ideals, expectations, which go well beyondthe superficial notions of “races” and of “differences” which they try to teach us.

I still feel deeply, more than one year afterwards, this strong link, which we have kept!I feel that the most moving testimony of friendship which one can give after having livedtogether only one week is from this person who writes to you saying that “his/her houseand heart are always open to you” (Ida Ohlsson, Sweden), or the one “in spite of this rapidseparation, the only wish which I now make is that your whole life will be filled with thesame happiness that we had this week” (Renata Kfouri, Brazil). But I believe the mosttouching and realistic declaration came from one of my dearest friends at present,Martin Novak (Slovakia) who in sending me his message and in referring to the Saturdaynight party “that in his whole life he will never be as happy as he was that night and thathe will never have so many friends together at the same place”.

Hence, I thank you once again, a last time, for this profound joy and this unique feelingof pure friendship that we were able to live one year ago together with 500 friends,thanks to UNESCO and its partners! …

Whatever will be, and to finish this letter, I thank you again and wish that many otheradolescents will have the same opportunity, which we had a year ago».

A delegation from La Réunion (France), which is grateful to you.

One year later…A testimony by Mélanie Ricquebourg,La Réunion, France.

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“Physical education is not an end in itself.It is at once a means of self-fulfilment, an instrumentof education and emancipation and a methodof socialization and integration”.

Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO

The “Road of Friendship” was thusopened with the closing of the firstInternational Friendship Encounter inDinard and Saint-Malo. The “Road” isintended to raise awareness and mobilizeyoung people around the world aboutphysical education and sport for a cultureof peace. It will publicize the YouthAppeal and act to apply it, and it willencourage the organization of local,national and regional friendshipencounters. UNESCO will also organizeregular International Encounters (onceevery two years) to ensure thecontinuation of the dialogue andintercultural exchange that have beenestablished as recommended in theYouth Appeal.

The “Road of Friendship” is a genuineinternational campaign whose progresswill be charted in a Road Diary. The Diarywill facilitate the development ofinstructional aids applying the principlesand recommendations that have comeout of the various encounters in supportof better physical education for all as avehicle for UNESCO’s ideals.

Emphasis will also be placed on “sportand health”, especially in the area ofpreventive education concerningthe fight against AIDS. Ju

ne 2

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« I am writing to you on behalf of all of my friends from The Réunion Delegation,who were invited one year ago to attend the International Friendship Encounter.I am writing to you to thank you for having invited me to take part in an unforgettableexperience which gave us new motivations for our future and to share our friendshipbeyond the superficial barriers of “races”.

This trip gave us the opportunity to incorporate in our daily life little things that completelyopened us to the wider world instead of closing ourselves up, in our small world. Suchawareness building develops on several fronts including linguistics. The simplest fact towant to learn better foreign languages becomes much more important because we realizesuddenly that they can be a daily tool (especially for corresponding and one shouldnot believe that “the others will learn French”.

Also and after the “cultural interaction” in which we took part for more than six days,one discovers a “thirst” for culture, one feels a real and strong will to know about the lifeof others. And finally, we open up to the outside world especially through information.Obviously, five days are not enough to get to know 500 young people but even if wedo not remain in contact with them, we try to follow what is happening in their countries.And if sometimes we rejoice, just knowing that all is well for one or for the other, one alsofeels unfortunately bad, sad and even afraid when we learn about difficult situations,for example in Argentina…

I do not always understand what was able to bring us so close together, I would even say“to unite” us because we are more than just pen pals, maybe the fact that we became“a human chain” (a very good symbol I believe because it was a very strong highlightof our stay), or to be brought together for a good cause and to have understood that wewere all young people with the same hopes, ideals, expectations, which go well beyondthe superficial notions of “races” and of “differences” which they try to teach us.

I still feel deeply, more than one year afterwards, this strong link, which we have kept!I feel that the most moving testimony of friendship which one can give after having livedtogether only one week is from this person who writes to you saying that “his/her houseand heart are always open to you” (Ida Ohlsson, Sweden), or the one “in spite of this rapidseparation, the only wish which I now make is that your whole life will be filled with thesame happiness that we had this week” (Renata Kfouri, Brazil). But I believe the mosttouching and realistic declaration came from one of my dearest friends at present,Martin Novak (Slovakia) who in sending me his message and in referring to the Saturdaynight party “that in his whole life he will never be as happy as he was that night and thathe will never have so many friends together at the same place”.

Hence, I thank you once again, a last time, for this profound joy and this unique feelingof pure friendship that we were able to live one year ago together with 500 friends,thanks to UNESCO and its partners! …

Whatever will be, and to finish this letter, I thank you again and wish that many otheradolescents will have the same opportunity, which we had a year ago».

A delegation from La Réunion (France), which is grateful to you.

One year later…A testimony by Mélanie Ricquebourg,La Réunion, France.

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sents 1Albania 2Argentina 3 Benin 4 Bosnia and

Herzegovina5 Botswana

6 Brazil 7Bulgaria 8 BurkinaFaso

9 Canada 10 CostaRica

11 Croatia 12 Cuba 13 Denmark 14 Ethiopia 15 France

16 Gabon 17 Georgia 18 Germany 19 Greece 20 Guyana

21 Haiti 22 Israel 23 Lebanon 24 Lithuania 25 Madagascar

26 Mali 27 Morocco 28 Namibia 29 New Zealand 30 Nicaragua

31 Norway 32 Poland 33 Portugal 34 Qatar 35 Republicof Korea

36 Republicof Macedonia

37 Republicof Moldavia

38 Romania 39 RussianFederation

40 Rwanda

41 Senegal 42 Slovakia 43 Slovenia 44 SouthAfrica

45 Rwanda

46 Sweden 47 Switzerland 48 Togo 49 Tunisia 50 UnitedArab Emirates

51 UnitedKingdom

52 Uruguay 53 Uzbekistan 54 Venezuela 55 Vietnam

EditingEditors-in-chief: Elizabeth Khawajkie (UNESCO)

Hamid Oussedik (UNESCO)

Editors: Marie Bardin (France)

Proofreading: Sigrid Niedermayer (UNESCO)Marcellin Dally (UNESCO)Marie-Paule Belmas (French NationalCommission for UNESCO)

Design/Lay-out: Juri Reisner (www.graphactory.com)

Publisher: Welcome Byzance

Printing: Gyss Imprimeurin Obernai (F)

photos: Francette Levieux INSEP (France)

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Lis

te d

es

pay

s pré

sents 1Albania 2Argentina 3 Benin 4 Bosnia and

Herzegovina5 Botswana

6 Brazil 7Bulgaria 8 BurkinaFaso

9 Canada 10 CostaRica

11 Croatia 12 Cuba 13 Denmark 14 Ethiopia 15 France

16 Gabon 17 Georgia 18 Germany 19 Greece 20 Guyana

21 Haiti 22 Israel 23 Lebanon 24 Lithuania 25 Madagascar

26 Mali 27 Morocco 28 Namibia 29 New Zealand 30 Nicaragua

31 Norway 32 Poland 33 Portugal 34 Qatar 35 Republicof Korea

36 Republicof Macedonia

37 Republicof Moldavia

38 Romania 39 RussianFederation

40 Rwanda

41 Senegal 42 Slovakia 43 Slovenia 44 SouthAfrica

45 Rwanda

46 Sweden 47 Switzerland 48 Togo 49 Tunisia 50 UnitedArab Emirates

51 UnitedKingdom

52 Uruguay 53 Uzbekistan 54 Venezuela 55 Vietnam

EditingEditors-in-chief: Elizabeth Khawajkie (UNESCO)

Hamid Oussedik (UNESCO)

Editors: Marie Bardin (France)

Proofreading: Sigrid Niedermayer (UNESCO)Marcellin Dally (UNESCO)Marie-Paule Belmas (French NationalCommission for UNESCO)

Design/Lay-out: Juri Reisner (www.graphactory.com)

Publisher: Welcome Byzance

Printing: Gyss Imprimeurin Obernai (F)

photos: Francette Levieux INSEP (France)

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2001United Nations Yearof Dialogue amongCivilizationsInternational Yearof Mobilization against Racism,Racial Discrimination,Xenophobia and RelatedIntolerance

2001-2010International Decadefor a Culture of Peaceand Non-Violencefor the Children of the World

UNAIDS