Join the #WhiteCard campaign by April 6
4 | 4 | 2018
World Olympians Association is calling on Olympians around the world to support Peace and Sport’s #WhiteCard digital campaign by April 6 and show their commitment to peace efforts worldwide.
The annual campaign, launched in Colombia last week by Ivorian football star and Peace and Sport Champion for Peace Didier Drogba, recognises the importance of the peace-through-sport movement, capturing the attention of millions of people each year through social networks in the lead up to International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) on April 6.
Founded by the United Nations in 2013 and supported by the International Olympic Committee, IDSDP celebrates the power of sport to drive social change and community development, foster peace and promote understanding. It falls on the anniversary of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896.
As part of the #WhiteCard campaign Olympians and members of the Olympic Family are invited to hold up a symbolic white card and share a photo of themselves doing so on social media using the hash tags #WhiteCard and #IDSDP2018
Last year, #WhiteCard reached 43 million people worldwide on social networks thanks to the efforts of thousands of people including Olympians. High profile Olympians involved included Chair of the IOC Athletes' Commission and double Olympic gold medallist Kirsty Coventry OLY (Zimbabwe), world number one tennis player Roger Federer (Switzerland), Paris 2024 President and triple Olympic champion Tony Estanguet OLY (France), PyeongChang 2018 Ice Dancing bronze medallists Alex and Maia Shibutani (USA) and four-time Tour de France champion Chris Froome (Great Britain).
“The white card acts as a unifying symbol for inclusion, equality and peace worldwide. By holding it up for International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, Olympians demonstrate that sport can be an instrument for change throughout the world,” said Joël Bouzou OLY, WOA President and President and Founder of Peace and Sport.
“I encourage all Olympians to come together to support the #WhiteCard campaign on social media for April 6 and show our commitment to peace through sport around the world.”
Olympians can also upload details of their planned activities and events to Peace and Sport’s April 6 website – a platform dedicated to promoting initiatives that celebrate this important day.
More information about Peace and Sport’s April 6 and #WhiteCard campaign can be found HERE
Image credit: Peace and Sport
