Uniting Sportsmanship to Foster Civilizational Dialogue – GYDCA 'Sportsmanship' Forum Held at UNESCO Headquarters

Amid the global excitement surrounding major sporting events, the "Sportsmanship" symposium organized by the Global Youth Dialogue among Civilizations Alliance (GYDCA) took place on July 13 at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. Sports champions, youth leaders, scholars, and UNESCO representatives gathered to discuss three main themes: "Sports as a School of Life," "Sports for Physical and Mental Healing," and "Sports Uniting the World." GYDCA Executive Chairman Zhang Jing noted in his opening address that sports serve not only as an arena for athletic competition but also as a vital bridge transcending cultural, linguistic, and racial divides. In today's uncertain world, the values of inclusion, respect, solidarity, and resilience embodied by sportsmanship provide a unique natural bond for deepening civilizational mutual learning. The symposium featured several high-profile sports and cultural figures: Ivory Coast world taekwondo silver medalist Firmin Zokou shared how athletic competition reshapes youth discipline; French Olympic rhythmic gymnast Célia Joseph-Noël discussed sports aesthetics and female empowerment; European blind football champion Yvan Wouandji demonstrated sports' transformative power for social inclusion and healing; and Eastern wellness expert Zhan Yi explored traditional physical wisdom unifying body and mind. UNESCO representatives Louisa Ben Said and Oussama Youssef highlighted UNESCO's initiatives in leveraging sports to advance gender equality, inclusive leadership, and ethical integrity. The event concluded with a live chess simultaneous exhibition by French chess master Dorian Dalo against six youth players, illustrating strategic thinking and mutual respect across cultures.