Originated from an initiative of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which aims to promote the contribution of sport in the realization and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals; emphasizes the support of sport to peace and development, as well as its contribution to the creation of an environment of friendship and mutual understanding. The United Nations General Assembly (UN) has adopted April 6 every year as the International Day of Sports.
The Olympic flag symbolizes the inseparable solidarity of the continents.
What does sport have to do with the UN? In fact, sport represents a natural partnership for the UN system that includes UNESCO. Access to sport and physical activity is recognized as a fundamental right for all according to article 1 of the 1978 UNESCO Charter on Physical Education and Sport. It is included in the UNICEF Convention on Child Rights and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
Sport is for education, development and peace, and can foster cooperation, solidarity, mutual understanding, social inclusion, and health on a local, national and international scale. So far, sports have been known to play an important role in promoting solidarity, social inclusion and peaceful coexistence.
Sport is also an instrument of peace. Thanks to the unique attractive power of sport and the collective power as well as the non-political character, sport is often used to re-establish dialogues in political, cultural or religious tensions.
Sport also contributes to the economic, social and even personal development of people of all ages, especially young people. Sports-related activities can create jobs and generate economic activities at many levels.
Therefore, sport is increasingly recognized and used as a low-cost and high-impact tool in humanitarian, peace-building and humanitarian efforts, not only by the UN system but also by non-governmental organizations (NGOs), government, development agencies, sports federation, the armed forces and the media.
Also, sport is a powerful tool to contribute to peace-building and development by promoting progress in poverty reduction; community education; equality between men and women; racism; prevention of HIV/AIDS and other diseases; sustainable environmental protection; resolve conflicts and bring peace; support for those in need of rehabilitation, refugees, victims of conflicts and natural disasters, people with disabilities…
Every year, in Vietnam, many international sporting events take place, attracting many foreign athletes to attend. In particular, the Open New Hanoi Newspaper Run – For Peace held annually by Hanoi city has a profound political and social significance, attracting the participation of a large number of people, professional and amateur athletes and abroad with the desire to send the Message of Peace to all five continents, etc.
Capital people and international friends join hands to sign the peace flag. Open New Hanoi Newspaper Run – For peace organized by Hanoi city’s authorities is a sporting event of great significance.
Open New Hanoi Newspaper Runway – For peace is held every year, there are always many ambassadors, counselors and international friends attending and considering this as a typical sporting event, contributing to promoting the image of Hanoi Capital of stability and development with hospitable and peace-loving people.
So, as usual, on the first days of October, at Hoan Kiem Lake, tens of thousands of Vietnamese and international friends hold hands together, speak together, send a message of prayer of peace around the world. Each year the message differs, but has in common, is the force to condemn war without meaning, causing pain and loss for humanity; vow to do our best to protect eternal peace. All together affirm that peace is always a solid foundation for society and people to prosper and towards a better future. That wish resounded amid autumn of Hanoi and still always has meaning when many areas of the world still have potential instability; peace is still the desire towards all humanity.
Along with that, Formula 1 racing taking place in Hanoi starting from 2020 is also expected to create a positive effect for Vietnam’s economic development. In particular, Hanoi will surely gain great economic benefits and promote tourism by attracting a large number of international visitors from this event.
However, this year, the International Day of Sports for Development and Peace was commemorated on April 6 just as the COVID-19 pandemic has been spreading and raging around the world in the past four months. Not stopping at its origin in Wuhan, China, Coronavirus 2019, officially named COVID-19 by the World Health Organization, has become a global pandemic. As of April 5, 2020, 207 countries/regions around the globe reported cases of COVID-19. The pandemic causes most sports activities in the world, including Vietnam to postpone or cancel. Facing unpredictable developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Japanese Government and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) agreed to postpone the 2020 Olympics – the day of human solidarity to 2021.
In this context, many athletes in the world, including Vietnam, have taken many practical actions to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, such as calling for raising awareness against the pandemic, conducting donation and auction of some items to support prevention raging around the world.
V.H