FIAS Joins the #WhiteCard Campaign: Sport as a Tool for Peace

Every year on April 6, the world marks the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) – and the SAMBO community is once again part of it.

The International SAMBO Federation (FIAS) has long supported the #WhiteCard campaign initiated by Peace and Sport. This year, as IDSDP marks its 13th anniversary, sambists around the world are joining athletes, sports organizations, and Champions for Peace in raising a white card – a universal symbol of peace through sport.

The 2026 #WhiteCard campaign draws attention to one of the most pressing global challenges: millions of children are growing up in environments shaped by conflict, exclusion, and instability. According to UNICEF, 251 million children are currently out of school worldwide. For many of them, access to sport is not a privilege – it is a lifeline. Sport builds empathy, resilience, and cooperation. It creates spaces where children can learn to respect one another, manage conflict, and grow together. These are not abstract values – they are the foundations of peaceful communities.

FIAS shares this conviction. SAMBO, as a sport practiced across more than 130 countries, has always stood for values that go beyond competition: discipline, respect, and unity. Participation in the #WhiteCard campaign is a natural expression of what the SAMBO community represents.

FIAS calls on all sambists – athletes, coaches, referees, and federation members – to raise their #WhiteCard on April 6 and share it on social media. Together, we affirm that sport is a powerful and accessible tool for building a more peaceful world.

Raise your #WhiteCard. Stand for children's right to learn, play, and grow in peace.