European Fair Play Award Ceremony - Mardin (TUR)
On October 22, the EFPM Awards 2024 ceremony took place in the Turkish city of Mardin. EFPM President Philippe Housiaux opened the event, which was attended by 350 people, alongside Mardin Governor Tuncay Akkoyun, Organizing Committee Chairman Mehmet Samsa and EFPM Turkish Executive Committee Member Bilge Donuk.
Philippe Housiaux, EFPM President emphasised the importance of Fair Play as a societal value to generate and maintain peace.
He reminded the audience of the proposal he made to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Gutteres: “The global sports community is made up of billions of people. If it were united as a “sporting nation state,” it would probably be the greatest country in the world.
And yet, it has never been called upon to raise its voice in defense of our greatest societal value: PEACE… To reject war in all its forms, to claim the right to live well together, and to proclaim the universal purity of sport. It may be utopian… but what harm is there in trying – nation by nation, federation by federation, in major competitions as well as in smaller, more intimate gatherings?…”
The importance of values lies in their practical application, which is why awards are given. The following laureates received their well-deserved awards at the ceremony:
- Orhan AYHAN (TUR) , Atilla CÖMERT (TUR): the EFPM Diploma of recognition 2024
- The youth of accueil en milieu ouvert“Tacle aux préjugés” (BEL) was represented by Hakim BOUZBIB, EFPM Fair Play Flame Award to an athlete, or a team under 18
- Antimo IUNCO (ITA), Avni KÜPELI (TUR), Pinelopi NIKA (GRE)the EFPM Spirit of Fair Play award
- Aysel SULTANOVA (AZE) and Murat ATAY (TUR), the EFPM Fair Play Vox award, made under the auspices of AIPS Europe
- Municipality of MOLENBEEK SAINT-JEAN (BEL) represented byIsabelle VAN MECHELEN and Meriem CHEMSSI the EUROPEAN FAIR PLAY DIPLOMA made under the auspices of the European Olympic Committees
- “Play, Write, Like” project participantsCroatian School Sport Federation represented by Mirna RAJLE BRODANAC forthe EUROPEAN FAIR PLAY PLAQUE OF MERIT AND DIPLOMA made under the auspices of the European Olympic Committees
Unfortunately, some of the laureates were unable to attend the ceremony due to other important commitments. We will honour them with their trophies and diplomas at an appropriate ceremony in the future.
To celebrate its 30th anniversary, EFPM launched a series of activities. Kasparas ŠILEIKIS from the Lithuanian National Olympic Committee for the Crossing Europe for Fair Play and Peace project. Sevim Gullu, Vice-President of the Turkish Fair Play Committee and member of the EFPM Scientific Committee presented the book “30 Years of EFPM”. Finally, honorary diplomas were awarded to two founding members of EFPM, Erdogan Aripinar (TUR) and Manfred Lämmer (GER).
24.10.2024
