YOUTH                PEACE                GLOBAL

AND

WORLD SCHOLAR-ATHLETE GAMES
Initiatives of the Institute for International Sport

WHAT THE WORLD SCHOLAR-ATHLETE GAMES EXPERIENCE WILL MEAN TO PARTICIPANTS

“We may have just witnessed the finest youth event in history.” – Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick Lynch, at the closing ceremonies of the 2006 World Scholar-Athlete Games.

Thousands of our past participants, coaches, volunteers and administrators share the view that the World Scholar-Athlete Games is the singularly finest youth event in the world.  Please make sure to visit the “Testimonials” section to get an idea of what the World Scholar-Athlete Games has meant to so many of our participants.

HERE ARE SIX EXAMPLES

What the Scholar-Athlete Games Participants Say

“It’s a very special experience. Every second person you talk to is from a different country.  Here, it’s about trying to understand each other, not as much about winning or losing.” – Senia Abderahman, age 18, Western Sahara

 “I am enjoying the games and having a great time. I’m studying photography. All the people I met from the USA, they are nice people. Before I arrived I was afraid because I am an Arab, but the participants here don’t have a problem if I was Arab or Jew or Muslim. You know, for sure, if we put aside our religious stuff and political stuff, it will be a better environment to live in.”- Rawi Awayed, age 17, Israel

 “These games are about friendship. I meet other people and learn about other cultures. We’re here as a group to learn together.  I’m going to try.  I don’t think I can do it by myself, everybody has to do a part.  In Haiti, when people are burning houses, when they are mad about something, they don’t talk.  We don’t really have the freedom to speak, so they burn something. Sports can bring peace because a lot of people love sports.” – Rose Albert, age 15, Haiti

 “Playing with people from different countries motivates me. Maybe by playing with them they can understand me and then from there on we can grow.  I know some people from Chile and from Ghana, in Africa, and that’s how the unity starts.”– Peter Malual,  age 19, Sudan

“I’m Catholic. Where I come from Protestants and Catholics, there’s the troubles.  But I go to an integrated school and I don’t really care about that. Two weeks ago I found I had a friend who was a Protestant. I thought he was a Catholic.  Sport brings a lot of people together. It brings sense into their heads about what religion you are. The point is, just get along.”- Gareth Brown, age 18, Northern Ireland

 “When I was born, the war was going on.  I’ve never known anything different.  I think we should live together because in my country there are many adversaries and a union is the best thing.  I don’t know if it will directly help my country, but bringing students from around the world like this will allow more cultural and political understanding of what’s going on in the world. It will help over time.” - Surekha Rodrigo, age 14, Sri Lanka