Al Raya: Qatar Leverages Sports to Promote Peace and Human Rights

Doha: The Qatari newspaper Al Raya has highlighted the significance that Qatar places on sports for their role in promoting peace, security, sustainable development, and human rights. The paper underscored Qatar's pioneering initiatives to harness the impact of sports to foster positive global change. In its editorial titled "Qatar Leverages Sports to Promote Peace," the paper stated that Qatar has long believed in the power of sports as a catalyst for advancing human rights. The Olympic Charter aims to use sports as a means for the harmonious development of humanity, fostering a peaceful society that upholds human dignity. The paper pointed out that Qatar recognized early on the role of sports in enhancing peace, security, and sustainable development worldwide. Qatar has launched leading international sports initiatives, recognizing sports as a unifying force that combats crime, terrorism, and extremism, while ensuring mental and physical well-being. In this context, Qatar's permanent delegation to the Un ited Nations and other international organizations in Geneva organized a discussion titled "Sports for Peace: Harnessing Sports' Role in Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding." The event was attended by diplomats, representatives of international organizations, academics, and students, and aimed to highlight the immense ability of sports to foster peace, promote tolerance, and encourage fair competition by building bridges and uniting people. Al Raya emphasized that Qatar successfully brought the world together on its soil during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, a global sports, cultural, and social festival. The tournament saw fans from all corners of the world gather in Qatar, a land of peace and love, showcasing sports as an ideal platform for promoting a culture of peace. Sports instill values such as respect for cultural and ethnic backgrounds, discipline, teamwork, fairness, and justice, all of which contribute to social cohesion and the prevention of conflicts within communities. The paper continued by highl ighting Qatar's commitment to integrating sports into multilateral diplomacy. Qatar is a member of the "Group of Friends of Sport for Development and Peace" in both Geneva and New York, an informal governmental platform that encourages dialogue and promotes the active inclusion of sports in the policies and strategies of UN member states and the United Nations system. Al Raya concluded by reaffirming that Qatar consistently advocates in international forums for maximizing the global benefits of sports. Qatar views sports, particularly football, as an essential tool for promoting peace, development, and constructive dialogue between civilizations. It believes in the pivotal role of sports in advancing peace, security, sustainable development, and human rights - the three main pillars of the United Nations. This vision was evident in Qatar's creation of a lasting legacy during the 2022 World Cup, where humanity united on Qatari soil. Source: Qatar News Agency