Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1986-1999, predominant 1994-1997 (Creation)
Level of description
Series
Extent and medium
2.2 linear metres of textual documents and other material
Context area
Name of creator
Administrative history
In 1993, the 27th session of the General Conference endorsed the idea that youth should contribute to ideals of peace on an international scale. Within this context, the UNESCO ‘Peace Games’ (‘Jeux de la Paix’ in French) were conceived, and based on an idea of an ‘Olympiades de l’Esprit’ (Olympiad of the Mind), wherein young people from around the world would compete through tests or activities centred around the theme of peace. The Games were approved by Director-General Federico Mayor in 1994 on the condition that an evaluation (test edition) take place to demonstrate the viability of the project. The soon-to-be-named Administrator of the Games, Suzanne Diop, would manage the project under the supervision of Arthur Gillette, Director of the Division of Youth and Sports Activities (SHS/YSA). After surveying the activities related to youth and peace among Permanent Delegations, it was decided that the test edition would take place in 1995, coinciding with the 10th Anniversary of the International Year of Youth, as well as the 50th Anniversary of UNESCO. This small-scale, trial edition took place in Romania in collaboration with the Romanian Ministry of Education and the National Commission, and saw some 5,000 youth participating from 30 UNESCO Associated Schools and Clubs throughout the country. Youth competed in the categories of spelling, choral singing and relay racing. Medals were awarded 7 June 1995 in Bucharest by Mr. Mayor. The Games received some financial and in-kind contributions from businesses in Romania and France, as well as from Non-Governmental Organizations.
In the Programme and Budget for 1996-1997, presented to the 28th Session of the General Conference in 1995, the Peace Games were included under the umbrella of the larger transdisciplinary project ‘Towards a culture of peace’, as they contributed to wider efforts of “peace-building ”. The Programme and Budget simply states that “Consideration will be given to the possibility of instituting a UNESCO Peace Games competition” (UNESCO. General Conference, 28th Session. 1995. 28 C/5, para. 05216). The Peace Games were discussed again at the 149th session of the Executive Board. The Board requested that the Director-General prepare a Feasibility Study to be submitted at the Board’s 150th Session.
Following on the first trial edition, an international trial edition of the Games was subsequently held with five countries participating: Benin, Costa Rica, Morocco, Romania and Togo. Approximately 20 youth from each country competed in the final which took place in Lomé, Togo, in September 1996.
Upon consideration of the feasibility study, the 150th session of the Executive Board called for a “scope that is less ambitious yet more consistent with the need for programme decentralization and concentration and with the Organization’s financial constraints” (UNESCO. Executive Board, 150th session. 150 EX/decision 8.1). The Board further invited the Director-General to take any “necessary steps to create a ‘UNESCO Peace Games’ label” that could be awarded to future ventures (UNESCO. Executive Board, 150th session. 150 EX/decision 8.1). However, after this point no further UNESCO Peace Games were awarded or held.
These UNESCO Peace Games are distinct from the UNESCO-IADC (Inter-American Defense College) PeaceGames which took place in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and aimed to include military organizations in wider, concrete peace-building efforts.
Repository
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Series consists of files related to the 1995 and 1996 UNESCO Peace Games. Documents date from the early conception and development of the games, and include research related to youth and the theme of peace; correspondence related to potential sponsorships; day-to-day correspondence; correspondence with Director-General Federico Mayor as well as delegates from Member States; an evaluation of the feasibility and success of the games; press and media coverage files; and three-dimensional souvenir objects or gifts from or related to the games. The series is arranged in four subseries, however, files are numbered sequentially despite the subseries.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
During the arrangement, some documents were destroyed by the archivist, including: duplicates; documents produced by UNESCO (General Conference and Executive Board documents) without annotations from staff; documents on personnel matters (duplicates of records generated by human resources units), and personal documents that did not relate to the Peace Games project.
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Files are open after 20 years according to the Access Rules.