Pakistan football captain to attend Peace and Sport forum

Dubai: Pakistan football team captain Kash Seddiqi will be part of a special panel to discuss soft diplomacy — using sport as a means to peace — at the Peace and Sport Forum to be held in Dubai on April 23 and 24.

The special session involving Seddiqi is scheduled for 5pm on the first day. Joining him on the panel will be other sports personalities including Jon Long, the head of strategic management and support services at the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Stuart Borrie, director of operations, Badminton World Federation.

Born in England, Seddiqi started off at the Arsenal youth academy before working his way up into the Pakistan national squad. Presently, the 27-year-old plays in the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League for Ventura County Fusion.

In 2011, he founded the Kashif Seddiqi Foundation which aims to encourage young British Asians into the game. He is also an ambassador for Kick It Out, the organisation within football that seeks to challenge discrimination, encourage inclusive practices for positive changes against racism in the sport.

“For us, Dubai is the prime example of how people from all across the globe can co-exist in peace. We are so aware of what an atmosphere like Dubai can do in helping nurture this idea of peace through sport as a medium,” Dr Ahmad Saad Al Sharif, General Secretary, Dubai Sports Council (DSC), told Gulf News.

“We need to have a community that is both interactive and willing to support such initiatives that will only make this world a more peaceful place,” he added.

Founded in 2007 by Joel Bouzou, the Peace and Sport Forum boasts top sportspersons among its members, including tennis stars Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic; rugby legend Jonah Lomu; Ukrainian pole vaulter Sergey Bubka and French footballer Christian Karembu.

Dubai will become the first city outside Europe to host the forum.

Organisers are expecting a significant number of important political figures from across the Middle East to attend the two-day forum along. Some of the region’s famous sports personalities, including Moroccan middle distance legend Hesham Al Gerrouj have also been invited.

The forum will be held at the JW Marriott Dubai Marquis Hotel.