The exhibition “I Giusti nel Sport” was inaugurated on June 16 at the United Nations Glass Palace, a project promoted by Fondazione Gariwo in collaboration with the Permanent Representation of Italy at the UN. The exhibition will be open until 26 June.
The exhibition collects stories of athletes and sports related figures who, in different historical and geographical contexts, have distinguished themselves for defending human rights and dignity of people, often putting at risk their lives. Among the protagonists remembered and celebrated, Arpad Weisz, Hungarian coach of Inter and Bologna, victim of the Shoah, the cycling champion Gino Bartali, engaged during World War II in the rescue of numerous Jews affected by racial laws, Afghan footballer Khalida Popal and Syrian swimmer Yusra Mardini. Lives and stories of everyday heroes, matured in different contexts and places of the world, which intertwine in the common commitment to save human lives and defend the dignity of people at risk.
At the inauguration, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Edmondo Cirielli, the Italian Permanent Representative to the UN Giorgio Marrapodi, the President of the Fondazione Gariwo Gabriele Nissim, the UN Secretary General for Global Communications Melissa Fleming and the UN Special Adviser for the Prevention of the Chaloka Beyani genocide. There are also numerous ambassadors and UN officials and countries of the international community.
In his intervention, Cirielli recalled the value of memory and the example of these figures: “Remembering the Just means conveying concrete models of individual responsibility. Sport, in this sense, can be an important tool to foster cooperation, respect and understanding among people.” The deputy minister also recalled the commitment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the valorization of these experiences, including the establishment of the Garden and the Viale dei Giusti alla Farnesina.
Gabriele Nissim stressed the role of sport as a space for meeting and dialogue: “Sport teaches equality and relationships. It is one of the few areas where, even in the most difficult times, a common ground is created between different individuals and countries. During the competitions, conflicts often suspend and a possibility of peace opens.”.
The exhibition, initially presented in Milan on the occasion of the Winter Olympics, has already touched several Italian cities before arriving in New York.
The initiative is part of a wider context of Italian diplomatic activities at the United Nations. On 17 June, a conference will be held in the presence of Vice Minister Cirielli, together with UN Deputy Secretary Amina Mohammed and the President of the General Assembly Annalena Baerbock, dedicated to the sustainable development target number 16 (peace, justice and solid institutions) organized by Italy along with the UN Department for Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) and the International Organization for Development Law (IDLO).
L’articolo The UN opening exhibition on the right in sport proviene da IlNewyorkese.