Generations for Peace Announces Sochi Camp 2010

The 10-day camp represents a pivotal breakthrough for Generations For Peace. As one of the world’s only peace through sport initiatives to be officially recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the organisation is seeking to cross new frontiers in its mission to bring sustainable peace to communities blighted by conflict through its unique Generations For Peace Pioneers Certification Programme.

Sochi Camp 2010 has received strong backing from the Russian government and a high-profile official delegation is likely to be among the list of influential attendees.

Generations For Peace Founder and Chairman, IOC Member HRH Prince Feisal Al-Hussein of Jordan, spoke passionately about the significance of bringing the camp to new territories:

‘We are thrilled to be hosting our seventh camp right here in the next Winter Olympic Capital. Generations For Peace shares so many of its values with the Olympic Movement: our passion for peace, for unity, for universal understanding; our shared belief in the paramount importance of respect, fair play and teamwork, not just on the field of play, but in life.

Sport is the perfect tool for instilling these values in young people from all sides of the conflict divide. So what better place to begin the next exciting phase in our development than Sochi, a city preparing to welcome the world to a celebration of Olympism in 2014.’

Over 70 leaders of youth will be travelling to Sochi to take part in the camp. These remarkable young men and women, all with outstanding records in community development projects, have been recommended by National Olympic Committees, and international and local NGOs.

They will represent more than ten European and Central Asian countries still bearing the scars of conflict: countries such as Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, Kazakhstan, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and the Russian Federation, among others.

Dmitry Chernyshenko, President and CEO of the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee, echoed HRH Prince Feisal’s enthusiasm. For him and his team, welcoming Generations For Peace to the Black Sea Coast represents a perfect launch pad for achieving some of Sochi 2014’s most ambitious objectives:

‘The 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games are about far more than three weeks of competition. Sochi 2014 is a Gateway to the Future for Russia and for the Olympic Movement, and we are determined to create a lasting legacy today with our wide-ranging youth sport and community projects.

We are proud to be the first Olympic Capital to collaborate so closely with a peace through sport organisation. Working together, I firmly believe that Sochi 2014 and Generations For Peace can be an influential force for good, not only in Russia, but across Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia. Generations For Peace is an extraordinary organisation, and they have a truly visionary leader in HRH Prince Feisal.’

Chief Executive Officer, HRH Princess Sarah Al-Feisal, drew attention to the astounding progress the organisation as made in its short history:

‘Since 2007, Generations For Peace Pioneers and delegates have worked with over 47,000 children and have gone on to train another 2,700 leaders of youth from 39 countries and territories across Asia, Africa and Europe.

At Sochi Camp 2010, Generations For Peace will continue to swell the ranks of professionally trained men and women working to change the lives of young people for the better. The younger generation desperately wants to break the cycle of conflict, prejudice and hatred; thanks to the achievements of Generations For Peace, more and more are finally able to choose peace.’

As it prepares to host the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2014, Sochi has already hosted several major international events, including the AIPS congress, the numerous editions of the International Investment Forum and spectacular events celebrating the Sochi 2014 Cultural Olympiad.