Hello Monaco magazine Winter 2018 - issue HM02 | Page 50

INTERVIEW Joёl Bouzou: «how sport can heal the world» Joёl Bouzou today is the president and founder of the organisation Peace and Sport. After ending his sporting career in 1992 he devoted his time in promoting sport in another way, aiming to achieve peace, social cohesion, and integration. Жоэль Бузу — президент и основатель организации «Peace and Sport». После окончания спортивной карьеры в 1992 году он посвящает все свое время продвижению спорта для решения проблем социальной сплоченности и единства. I ENG n 1991 Mr Bouzou founded the association «Rassemble- ment par le Sport» («Together through Sport») and cre- ated the «Champions in the Street» program, which helps the social integration of young people through sport in city suburbs, using champions as role models. During 10 years of its existence, «Rassemblement par le Sport» helped to bring 20,000 young people off the streets on a long- term basis by involving them in a sporting activity. He gradually developed the ambition of creating a project based on sport that would contribute to the process of keeping peace and support development. Launched in 2009 by Peace and Sport, the Champions of Peace Club brings together more than 100 high-level, active or retired, athletes who want to put sport and their experience to work in the service of peace. Their collective actions and their commitment contribute every day to demonstrate that sport is 48 / Hello Monaco – Winter 2018 going way beyond athletic performance and plays a real role in benefiting society. Peace and Sport is a neutral Monaco-based organisation created in 2007 under the High Patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert II. Its objective is to bring the values of sport, including discipline and organisation and structure, to the heart of communities in crisis throughout the world, making sport a vehicle for tolerance, respect and citizenship in the service of sustainable peace. This year the organisation will celebrate its 10 year anniversary and on this occasion, it will hold an anniversary edition of the Peace and Sport International Forum. The Forum will be organised in Monaco from 6th to 8th December. Peace and Sport International Forum is the largest global event convening the world of sport for peace. Each year, the Forum has united more than 600 major decision-makers from over 110 countries including Heads of State, Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, sports governing bodies and high-level athletes, international organizations,