Generations for Peace is one of only two organisations that have official International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognition, the other being Right to Play, having been set up by Prince Feisal in 2007.

Since then the organisation has expanded rapidly and last year it held its first camp outside the Middle East region in Sochi, host city of the 2014 Olympics and Paralympics.

The new Generations for Peace Institute will mark another important step in the development of the organisation when it opens next month on May 4 in Al-Hussein Sport City in Amman which is the capital and largest city in Jordan.

Prince Feisal, who is also President of the Jordan Olympic Committee and a highly respected IOC Member, believes that the new institute will be vital in helping bring sustainable peace to communities blighted by conflict.

"Since 2007, we have had seven camps where over 500 delegates have been trained and we have now expanded to 46 countries in three continents," Prince Feisal told insidethegames.

"They have gone on to train over 4,200 other youth leaders on the use of sport for peace building and they have worked with over 62,000 children so we have seen some very impressive and encouraging numbers.

"We are looking forward to this year where we want to continue to expand and one of the key things for us is the launch of our new institute.

"The Generations for Peace Institute will be extremely important because during our work, we have discovered that there is a huge knowledge gap and a great lack of research and study regarding the real contribution and impact that sport can make; not only in terms of peace building but also in terms of developing.

"The institute will be focused on investing in, conducting and motivating research to access the full impact that sport can have in promoting peace building and redevelopment.

"The power of sport cannot be underestimated and we feel the institute will really be able to make a huge and significant impact through both qualitative and quantitative research and analysis."


Princess Sarah Al-Feisal, the wife of Prince Feisal and the chief executive of Generations for Peace, revealed that the institute will be part of the new Generations for Peace premises and that a number of high ranking sports officials, including IOC President Jacques Rogge, are due to attend the launch.

"We are inaugurating the Generations for Peace premises, including the new institute building, in Al-Hussein Sport City in Amman which is the capital of Jordan," she told insidethegames.

"It will be under the Patronage of King Abdullah II [the older brother of Prince Feisal] and it represents a very exciting time for us because it will be the world's first institute focused on major research in this area.

"May 4 is the launch date for the institute and IOC President Jacques Rogge as well as other key leaders in sport and peace building will be there for the opening event.

"The primary source of income comes from the Jordan Olympic Committee but bigger contributions are coming in from both private and public sectors so and we are seeing more support internationally which is fantastic.

"For example, the ground-breaking Generations For Peace Sochi Camp 2010 was entirely funded by Sochi which show the importance of our work to others.

"Generations For Peace shares so many of its values with the Olympic Movement: our passion for peace, for unity, for universal understanding; our shared belief in the paramount importance of respect, fair play and teamwork, not just on the field of play, but in life."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
October 2010: Russian Deputy PM helps celebrate success of Generations for Peace camp
October 2010: Brother and sister double-act shining beacons for Sochi Camp
October 2010: Mayor delivers inspirational speech at Sochi Camp 2010
October 2010: Prince learns to "Moonwalk" at Generations For Peace in Sochi
October 2010: Prince opens Europe's first Generations For Peace camp in Sochi