Paris, 13 July 2026. The Global Youth Dialogue Among Civilizations Alliance (GYDCA) hosted the conference “The Spirit of Sport Through the Dialogue Among Civilizations” in the Conference Hall of UNESCO House in Paris. Elite athletes, UNESCO representatives, international experts and civil society leaders came together around a shared conviction: sport is far more than competition. It is a universal language that carries inclusion, resilience and real dialogue across cultures.
Organised around three themes — “Sport as a School of Life”, “Sport Heals” and “Sport Unites” — the conference looked at how sport shapes individual journeys, supports personal development and strengthens understanding between peoples.
Opening the dialogue
Jing Zhang, Executive President of GYDCA, opening the conference.
Jing Zhang, Executive President of GYDCA, gave the welcoming remarks, restating the organisation’s commitment to creating platforms where young people, institutions and civil society can hold meaningful dialogue and build lasting bridges between cultures.
Victoria Duval Romanelli, member of GYDCA, presenting the key initiatives led by GYDCA since its establishment in 2024.
Victoria Duval Romanelli then walked through the key initiatives GYDCA has led since its founding in 2024. Looking back at past events, a growing partnership network and the milestones of its annual programme, she placed the conference within the wider arc of GYDCA’s work.
Carla Geoffriaud, member of GYDCA, hosting the conference.
Carla Geoffriaud moderated throughout the day, guiding three panel discussions that brought together speakers from a wide range of professional and cultural backgrounds.
Sport as a school of life
The first panel turned to the role of sport in personal growth and leadership.
From left to right: Zhan Yi, Firmin Zokou, Célia Joseph Noël, Raphaël Ossart, and Yvan Wouandji.
Firmin Zokou, Taekwondo World Vice Champion; Célia Joseph Noël, French Olympic rhythmic gymnast; Yseult Zavagno, elite rhythmic gymnast; and Raphaël Ossart, volleyball player, spoke about life in high-level sport and the values that have shaped their careers.
Yseult Zavagno, elite individual rhythmic gymnast, whose unconventional journey — starting late, overcoming injuries, ultimately reaching excellence — inspires audiences.
Their accounts showed how discipline, perseverance and self-improvement carry well past the sporting arena, helping people build confidence, resilience and a strong sense of responsibility across their lives.
Sport as a path to resilience
The second panel, “Sport Heals”, took up the physical, mental and social impact of sport.
Yvan Wouandji, Paralympic champion, introducing the distinctive features of blind football, including the sound-emitting ball used in the sport.
Yvan Wouandji, European blind football champion and Paralympic silver medallist, shared his own path, showing how sport can become a powerful source of resilience, confidence and hope.
Zhan Yi, traditional Chinese wellness practitioner, inviting the audience to pause, breathe and reconnect through a live guided meditation — one of the conference’s most striking shared moments.
Alongside him, Zhan Yi introduced traditional Chinese wellness practices including Ba Duan Jin, Qi Gong and meditation, drawing out their contribution to mental well-being, inner balance and personal development. Her session widened the frame, presenting sport as a route to holistic health and lifelong wellbeing.
Sport as a catalyst for inclusion and international cooperation
The final panel, “Sport Unites”, examined sport’s role in intercultural dialogue and international cooperation.
From left to right: Dorian Dalaud, Louisa Ben Saïd, Osman Yusuf, and Michel Ange Marie Calixte.
Taking part were chess master Dorian Dalaud; Olympic bobsleigh medallist Michel Ange Marie Calixte; Osman Yusuf, Associate Partnerships Development Officer at UNESCO’s Secretariat of the International Convention against Doping in Sport; and Louisa Ben Saïd, Associate Project Officer in UNESCO’s Sport Section.
The discussion underlined how ethical governance, international partnerships and inclusive sports policies feed into sustainable development and social cohesion.
UNESCO representatives also presented flagship initiatives such as the Fit for Life Sport Alliance and the Sport Leadership Programme, which work on gender equality, safe sport, youth leadership and inclusive participation worldwide.
Continuing the conversation beyond the conference
Dorian Dalaud, chess master, on the mental endurance that makes chess a true sport.
The event ended with a networking session that gathered speakers, participants and partners, giving them room to carry the day’s conversations further and look at future collaborations.
Closing session of the conference before the chess exhibition.
A simultaneous chess exhibition led by Dorian Dalaud made for a fitting close, putting on show the strategy, respect and dialogue that had run through the discussions.
Conference speakers, Carla Geoffriaud and Jing Zhang.
By assembling accomplished athletes, international organisations, experts and young leaders, “The Spirit of Sport Through the Dialogue Among Civilizations” made the case that sport is among the most powerful tools for connecting people across cultures. Past the competition, it encourages mutual understanding, strengthens international cooperation and gives future generations reason to work together for a more inclusive and peaceful world.
Through initiatives like this conference, GYDCA continues to pursue its mission of empowering young people through intercultural dialogue, building bridges between civilizations and promoting international cooperation through sport, culture and education.
