Delegates from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Cyprus, Kosovo and Russia joined those from Madagascar, Kyrgyzstan and Rwanda, who were also attending for the first time.

They are joined by delegates from Bangladesh, Jordan, Yemen, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Palestine, Nepal, Lebanon and Nigeria.

The involvement of European delegates follows the announcement last month of the setting-up of the Generations for Peace Institute in Amman and its partnership with Georgetown University, Washington DC and Jacques Rogge’s decision to award International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognition to Generations For Peace.

Prince Feisal, the President of the Jordan Olympic Committee who was recently elected as a member of the IOC, hailed the significance of the breakthrough at the opening of the sixth Generations for Peace Camp, which opened in Amman today.

He said: "Many of these European delegates will be the first young people from all sides of the conflict divide brought together through the power of sport.

"We are reaching across rifts caused by race, religion and ethnicity.

"Over the next 10 days here in Amman, this camp will empower delegates to take steps towards helping to bring sustainable peace to their communities."

The 77 delegates, representing 17 countries and territories from across the world, were nominated by National Olympic Committees, UN agencies, Generations for Peace partner organisations, and, in another first, by qualified Generations For Peace Pioneers.

The latest course is composed of five key modules: Peace Building and Sport; Working with Children and Youth; Training the Trainer; Advocacy and Partnerships; and, the latest addition to the innovative curriculum, Peace Building.



Delegates will also receive training, education and teaching skills in four sports: softball, volleyball, football and basketball.

Upon returning to their communities to begin their own peace programmes, the Peace Pioneers will receive financial support and guidance from the Generations For Peace Team based in Amman.

Princess Sarah Al-Feisal, the managing director of Generations for Peace, highlighted the enormous successes already achieved by Generations For Peace since 2007.

She said: "After this Camp, 39 countries and territories from three continents will have participated in the Generations For Peace Camps.

"457 first generation delegates will have been trained in six 10-day camps in Jordan and Abu Dhabi.

"The Generations For Peace cascade process has meant that there are now 2,500 second generation trainers.

"Together these dedicated men and women have trained over 45,000 young people - many participating with people with whom they are in conflict.

"We hope that with the addition of European delegates, Amman Camp 2010 will improve on this legacy of spectacular results."

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