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UConn to host world peace summit in 2011
Joe Adinolfi
Issue date: 6/15/09 Section: News
UConn will host over 20,000 guests from around the world in June 2011 for the World Scholar-Athlete Games and World Youth Peace Summit, sponsored by the International Institute for Sport (IIS). IIS has worked in cooperation with the United Nations to bring these two momentous events to our campus as well as the greater Hartford area.
The World Scholar-Athlete Games - IIS's flagship event - has been held every five years since 1993. This year's games will attract more participants than ever before because of the first ever IIS World Youth Peace Summit. The Peace Summit will begin directly after the conclusion of the games.
It is easily the most ambitious event the organization has ever planned. The IIS's founder and executive director is Dan Doyle - a former basketball coach at both Trinity College and the Kingswood-Oxford School. Doyle's 1980 Trinity men's basketball team was the first U.S. sports team to visit Cuba after the 1959 revolution. He was inspired by the camaraderie shared by the basketball players from both countries.
"As a young coach, I was drawn to international sport's unique capacity to build relationships, to teach lessons, to cross political divides and - as a result - to create the potential to effect change," wrote Doyle in an article posted on the IIS Web site.
"The Peace Summit will invite prior participants in the games to come to the summit to further their interest in peace studies and civic engagement," said Lisa Troyer, senior associate to the president and Chief of Staff.
Approximately 20,000 people - including current and former games' participants from around the world and several delegates appointed by the UN - will involve themselves in a week of workshops, discussions and speeches all devoted to inspiring a feeling of international civility as part of the peace summit.
Teams will be composed of a diverse mix of students. Players will be strangers before the games, but through playing together they will develop strong bonds. These bonds will help each individual participant promote inter-cultural understanding of his or her native country.
The World Scholar-Athlete Games - IIS's flagship event - has been held every five years since 1993. This year's games will attract more participants than ever before because of the first ever IIS World Youth Peace Summit. The Peace Summit will begin directly after the conclusion of the games.
It is easily the most ambitious event the organization has ever planned. The IIS's founder and executive director is Dan Doyle - a former basketball coach at both Trinity College and the Kingswood-Oxford School. Doyle's 1980 Trinity men's basketball team was the first U.S. sports team to visit Cuba after the 1959 revolution. He was inspired by the camaraderie shared by the basketball players from both countries.
"As a young coach, I was drawn to international sport's unique capacity to build relationships, to teach lessons, to cross political divides and - as a result - to create the potential to effect change," wrote Doyle in an article posted on the IIS Web site.
"The Peace Summit will invite prior participants in the games to come to the summit to further their interest in peace studies and civic engagement," said Lisa Troyer, senior associate to the president and Chief of Staff.
Approximately 20,000 people - including current and former games' participants from around the world and several delegates appointed by the UN - will involve themselves in a week of workshops, discussions and speeches all devoted to inspiring a feeling of international civility as part of the peace summit.
Teams will be composed of a diverse mix of students. Players will be strangers before the games, but through playing together they will develop strong bonds. These bonds will help each individual participant promote inter-cultural understanding of his or her native country.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Bette-Jayne Adinolfi
posted 6/18/09 @ 8:18 AM EST
Great article and coverage Joey, it sounds like this will be a commenorable time for UConn
642-504
posted 6/22/09 @ 3:18 AM EST
Really big thing for Uconn that UConn will host over 20,000 guests from around the world in June 2011 for the World Scholar-Athlete Games and World Youth Peace Summit. (Continued…)
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