Experts join global sports summit

Edinburgh students and academics are taking part in the annual World Sports Values Summit for Peace in South Africa.

Enterprising young people, athletes and scholars from around the world will gather in Cape Town to discuss how sport can help to foster peace and promote human rights.

Annual Event

The first World Sports Values Summit for Peace was held in London during the 2012 Olympics. The event focused on the promotion of Olympic values outwith sport and beyond London 2012.

The summit has since been held in New York and Tokyo.

The summit was founded by Japanese philanthropist Dr Haruhisa Handa, Lord Colin Moynihan, Chairman for the British Olympic Association for London 2012 and Katherine Marshall, Executive Director of World Faiths Development Dialogue.

EUSA Delegate

Edinburgh academics taking part include the Principal of the University of Edinburgh, Professor Sir Timothy O’Shea, Vice Principal International, Professor James Smith and Head of the Academy of Sport, Professor Grant Jarvie.

EUSA President Jonny Ross-Tatam will also attend the event. Jonny is founder of The Buchanan Institute, a student-led think tank engaging in policy-making.

During his year as EUSA President, Jonny is focused on wellbeing and improving the quality of life for every student.

Sport Stars

A number of sportsmen and women will speak at the event, including Australian swimmer and five-time Olympic gold medallist Ian Thorpe.

The event will also be addressed ex-professional footballer Lucas Radebe, former captain of South Africa’s national team and Bryan Habana, one of South Africa’s most successful rugby union players.

Research Grants

The summit has been organised by the ISPS Handa Young Leaders Sports and Development Initiative

The initiative encourages young leaders to pursue their commitments to connect sport, peace and global development.

Five of the young people attending the summit will receive a grant to begin new research or progress current development programmes.

Lord Colin Moynihan and Katherine Marshall will serve as mentors of the initiative.

The World Sports Values Summit for Peace provides an opportunity for some of Edinburgh’s athletes and scholars to learn and interact with like-minded leaders and sporting individuals. We hope that many practical actions will be taken forward as a result of the work in Cape Town and that Edinburgh’s students, staff and academics can help to make a real contribution to peace and development around the world.