29 April 2011 - FITA signs up with other International Federations to use sports for global peace

FITA signs up with other International Federations to use sports for global peace Lausanne – 29 April 2011  At the recent SportAccord Convention taking place in London, FITA together with another seven new Olympic and non-Olympic international sports federations announced that they are joining the Peace and Sport community to promote peace across the globe.   The Federations are:   Ø International Archery Federation (FITA) Ø International Cycling Union (UCI) Ø International Mountaineering and Climbing Association (UIAA) Ø International Triathlon Union (ITU) Ø Federation International Amateur Sambo (FIAS) Ø Federation International of Gymnastics (FIG) Ø International Sepak Takraw Federation (ISTAF) Ø International Korfball Federation (IKF)   Through their alliance with the international organisation Peace and Sport, the International Federations (IFs) will underpin initiatives they have already undertaken to promote peace, social cohesion and education in disadvantaged areas of the world.   Peace and Sport provides IFs with a platform for networking, political support and operational cooperation, through which their resources and expertise are optimised and integrated into global peace-building and peace-promotion projects, supported at the highest political level.   By acting in this way, federations develop the practice of their sport in new regions at the same time as coming to the aid of vulnerable communities.   Peace and Sport will help each IF to customise its sport in a way that suits local conditions, so that it can be practiced with very little equipment or adapted equipment. These sports will consequently become accessible to youngsters living in even the most disadvantaged environments. This innovative approach enables the values and virtues of sport to be diffused more widely and more effectively, especially to young people, regardless of their living conditions.   The alliance will also involve organising joint peace-promotion events in various parts of the world.   World Archery Communication: www.wordarchery.org Peace and Sport: www.peace-sport.org