International Day of Sport in the Service of Development and Peace was officially recognised at the United Nations General Assembly in August 2013, with the support of the International Olympic Committee.

The day is designed to recognise sport’s ability to contribute towards positive social change.

The following year, Peace and Sport launched the #WhiteCard digital campaign and the www.april6.org platform to create a global movement for the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.

Peace and Sport, an organisation created in 2007 by Olympic medallist and President of the World Olympians Association Joel Bouzou aims to promote the consolidation of peace through the power of sport.

"At a time when risks of division await us, I invite sports and peace actors, political leaders and representatives of the private sector, to raise their #WhiteCard as a sign of support to all peace efforts," said Bouzou.

"More than ever, it is necessary to recall the contribution of sport to conflict prevention, conflict resolution and in post-conflict processes."

Following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and Belarus, Peace and Sport published a column signed by more than 700 people, which invited members of the sporting community to demand peace and contribute to its construction.