For the fifth consecutive year on April 6th, the International Skating Union (ISU) is proud to renew its commitment to the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace – a worldwide initiative promoting sport as a tool for sustainable peace and positive social change.
Figure skaters pose with the White Card during the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2022 in Montpellier (FRA) @ISU (International Skating Union)
Originally launched by the United Nations in 2013, the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) brings together a wide array of leading international actors and organizations advocating the transformative power of sport to create greater dialogue, equity and fairness among societies all over the world.
This year, more than ever, the ISU is commemorating this symbolic date by reuniting once again the ice skating community around the #WhiteCard digital campaign. This action consists in holding up a #WhiteCard as a gesture of inclusion, equality and peace – by contrast to the red card that stands for the most serious offense in sport.
On the occasion of the last edition of the ISU World Figure Skating Championships that took place in Montpellier (FRA) (March 21-27, 2022), athletes stood together on the ice raising up their #WhiteCard as one single team – regardless of their nationality, gender, political or religious views. Among them, the French Olympic and World Ice Dance Champions Gabriella Papadakis/Guillaume Cizeron, the Japanese Men and Women World Champions Shoma Uno and Kaori Sakamoto, as well as the World Pairs Champions Alexa Knierim/Brandon Frazier from the USA, all gathered for a powerful moment in support of peace and unity.
In an effort to raise the greatest possible awareness on this initiative, the ISU encourages skaters, officials and fans across all ice skating disciplines to take part in this global movement by sharing their own or other inspiring #WhiteCard moments.
To find out more information on the #WhiteCard campaign and how you can participate, please visit april6.org.