In support of the efforts being made by the World Olympians Association throughout the world to support Peace and Sport’s, efforts are now being made by displaying a White Card as part of our digital campaign to show our commitment to peace and sports efforts worldwide. The annual campaign, launched in Colombia last week by Ivorian football star and Peace and Sport Champion for Peace Didier Drogba, recognizes the importance of the peace-through-sport movement, capturing the attention of millions of people each year through social networks in the lead up to International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP). As part of the White Card campaign Olympians and members of the Olympic Family are invited to hold up a symbolic white card and share a photo of them doing so on social media.
Thanks to the efforts of our Palau National Olympic Committee (PNOC) and a few sports that have already started this campaign in Palau to include Wrestling, Judo and Boxing (Palau’s newest sport), our first display of the white card was in Peleliu during the celebration of the Emperor Day and also the Olympic Day on Monday, April 09, 2018. After the Beach Wrestling Competition, the athletes displayed the White Card as part of their support. As to date, the symbolic White Card was displayed by Ngarchelong Elementary Students and Ngaraard Elementary students this week after taking part in the wrestling Outreach – PE program. According to John Tarkong Jr., Olympian and President of the Palau Olympians & Athletes Commission (POAC), this is our way of showing the world that Palau is committed on promoting peace and sport as a means of change in Palau and the world when conducting our activities and events. This effort is also in line with the Presidential Proclamation designating 2018 as the Year of Good Health.
In order to demonstrate your support for the peace through sport movement in your part of the world, we encourage anyone to take a photo, hold up your white card with the hashtag #WhiteCard and join the digital campaign on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to show your support along with all the Champions for Peace and Sport.