Latin American Professionals: Sport Builds Bridges
- Apr 9
- 3 min read
South and Central America – A panel of leaders from South America, Central America and the Caribbean gathered in a webinar on April 9, 2026, to commemorate the UN International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, under the theme “Sport Builds Bridges and Breaks Down Barriers: Youth, Family and Future.” The event was organized by UPF and several organizations under the UPF umbrella.
Mr. Jaime Fernandez, secretary general of UPF-Peru, served as moderator. He extended a warm welcome to the group of panelists, followed by the reminder that the UN General Assembly in 2013 proclaimed April 6 as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, underscoring sport's unique ability to promote protection, inclusion and peace in an increasingly fragmented world.
Mr. Eliecer Araya, regional president of UPF for Latin America and the Caribbean, shared words of welcome with all participants and extolled the highest ideals of sports:"All people can become one through sports, so that sports may extend a bridge of reconciliation and peace, where the hearts of all the peoples of the world can unite as one."
He added, "Sports were originally created to build strong bodies and maintain safe societies. Today, they have developed globally and bring enjoyment and enrichment to the lives of billions of people. That is why it is important for us to seek ways in which sports can contribute to achieving peace for all the peoples of the world."
The first panelist was Mr. Hector Eduardo Ceres Duran from Colombia, a professional in physical culture, sports and recreation. He is a sports journalist, pro-licensed football coach, and specialist in education. “Unfortunately, many governments around the world have cut sports funding because their leaders are unable to manage their resources and prefer to invest in weapons instead,” he said. “Yet sports are undoubtedly one of the best ways to build better human beings.”
The next speaker was the president of Tong-Il Moo-Do for Central America and the Caribbean, a 7th dan grand master with a doctorate in education, Dr. Gustavo Guiliano, from Argentina. “When we think about sport, we often associate it with winning, competing or excelling,” he said. “However, the United Nations' proposal goes further: it speaks of sport to instill values, strengthen communities and foster social harmony. And precisely, martial arts – in their origin – were created with that purpose.”
He explained that Tong-Il Moo-Do means “the path to the unification of martial arts,” but this does not refer only to technique; it is also a unification of body, mind and spirit. Tong-Il Moo-Do proposes a philosophy based on universal values to develop people rather than competitors, because it understands sport as a tool to build peace.
Ms. Maribel Cristina Granizo Pesantes, from Ecuador, is a professional in business administration and a facilitator of yoga workshops for women in vulnerable situations, with an emphasis on therapeutic and community-based group support. She contributed her experience in enhancing well-being, providing emotional support, and strengthening communities.
“When we talk about peace, we often think about something that happens outside: in relationships, in communities, in the world. But we rarely stop looking at a more intimate and, at the same time, more decisive place: the way we live inside ourselves,” she explained. She said that yoga helps people stop merely reacting to what others say or do, stop comparing themselves to others, and look inward. She described this as a path to freedom and to peace, choosing how to respond; shifting from reacting automatically to acting consciously.
To conclude the forum, the last panelist spoke in support of the commemoration of International Sports Day. Mr. Nahuel Fernando López is a volleyball coach at Club de Regatas Lima. He is a FIVB international level coach, and four-time national champion with his club in Lima, Peru. “The reality is that only 0.01 percent of children who play sports become professionals, so sports aren't designed to create professionals. Sports are designed to create people who know how to navigate society, who know how to work as a team, who understand goals, and who possess perseverance. That's the most valuable aspect of sports,” he said.
