2013 ING New York City Marathon Peace and Sport and Marie-José Pérec run for peace

On Sunday 3 November 2013, triple Olympic Champion Marie-José Pérec will lead the Peace and Sport running team in her first ever marathon, with the goal of raising funds for the organization’s operations in . A globally committed organization

Peace and Sport is a politically neutral, international organization that puts sport and its core values at the heart of development projects led in crisis- stricken communities around the world. Supported by governments, world sport governing bodies, global organizations, major international companies in the private sector and various sporting icons, Peace and Sport creates synergies between different stakeholders to carry out actions in four key areas: the Peace and Sport International Forum, a cooperation platform for peace through sport, the Peace and Sport Awards and Locally-Based Projects.

Sport-based actions

Founded in 2007 under the High Patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of , Peace and Sport conducts its missions in post-conflict zones and areas marked by extreme poverty or a lack of social cohesion, using sport as a vehicle for tolerance, respect, sharing and citizenship at the service of sustainable peace. The organization funds its field projects by organizing and participating in fundraising events.

In two years, more than 80,000 euros have been raised and donated to Peace and Sport’s field partners. This money has “notably been used to organize the Friendship Games between , and the Democratic Republic of Congo, a region of Africa marked by a recent genocide where sport and its values are contributing to reconciliation between the three countries. The funding has also enabled us to build sport infrastructures, buy equipment and train local instructors in the countries where we operate. Joël” Bouzou, President and Founder of Peace and Sport Official charity of the ING New York City Marathon

For the third year running, Peace and Sport is an official charity partner for the New York marathon and this year will be represented at the race by a team of 20 international runners. The running team will be led by world-famous athlete Marie-José Pérec in her first ever attempt at the marathon. She and the rest of the Peace and Sport team will run the 26.2 miles race with the goal of raising funds for the organization’s field projects.

A Champion for Peace

A triple Olympic champion and two-time World champion, Marie-José Pérec is a member of the “Champions for Peace” group – 70 high-level sporting personalities who have committed personally to Peace and Sport in order to support the peace through sport movement. Created by Peace and Sport in 2009, this initiative gives the Champions a platform for communal expression and action, allowing them to make sport a tool for dialogue and social cohesion. Role models, heroes and a source of inspiration for young people across the globe, the Champions lend their time, energy and athletic expertise to projects aimed at building and strengthening peace.

Haiti project

The money raised through Marie-José Pérec’s commitment and participation in the ING New York City Marathon will go directly towards funding Peace and Sport’s operations in Haiti: Training for instructors: based on a combination of theory and practical implementation, instructors will be taught how to use sport as an educational tool for peace. The training will be carried out at the Carrefour sports centre and elsewhere. Marie-José Pérec’s Provision of equipment: namely football, volleyball, handball, athletics, judo long-standing apparel and taekwondo equipment. sponsor will provide each Peace and Sport team member with I am delighted to contribute to this wonderful full running gear, as project in Haiti and more generally to all of Peace well as a financial “and Sport’s actions. donation to support Sport is a universal discipline that unites everyone the Haiti project. irrespective of background, religion, race and social standing. Our goal is to put smiles back on kids’ faces, encourage empathy and foster dialogue and solidarity in an area torn apart by war. It will be a true challenge but Peace and Sport and all of its ambassadors are committed to the cause! ©Eric Gaillard/Reuters Marie-José” Pérec, Champion for Peace

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