"PEACE AND SPORT IMAGE OF THE YEAR" AWARD TO THE PRESIDENTS OF ARMENIA AND TURKEY
armradio.am
05.12.2008 14:45
During the "Peace and Sport Awards" ceremony in Monaco the "Peace and
Sport Image of the Year" Award for the best image of fraternization
through sport was awarded for a photograph of the historic handshake
between the President of the Republic of Turkey Abdullah Gul and the
President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, during the qualifying match
for the Football World Cup between Turkey and Armenia, the Sports
Features Communications reported. Thanks to football, this moment
marked the end of nearly two decades of diplomatic silence.
H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco presented the award jointly to
Armen Grigorian, Armenian Minister of Youth and Sport, and to Mahmut
Ozgener, President of the Turkish Football Federation, who exchanged
long greetings on stage, creating a moment of intense emotion amongst
spectators.
Joel Bouzou and David Tomatis, CEO of Sportel, acclaimed the photograph
as "a symbol of hope for two communities whose history has been marked
by hostility and pain."
In a letter sent to Peace and Sport, the Armenian President Mr
Sargsyan proclaimed himself "deeply moved to hear the Grand Jury’s
decision to attribute the Peace and Sport Image of the Year Award to
his handshake with Turkish President Mr Gul." He added that he was
convinced that "Sport is one of the best ways to overcome differences
between nations".